McFarlene is coming out with new Harry Potter figures!

McFarlene Toys blew us away during Toy Fair with their new figures for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! So, we weren't allowed to take any pics except for the covered up case that held the display. However, I did get permission to share details about Wave 1!

Here's the lineup for Wave 1:

Unboxed: FanSets Harry Potter Blind Bag Pins Series 1

Matthew at NerdNewsToday and I are back with a review we have both been waiting to do. Today, we're going to be unboxing (unbagging?) the Target Exclusives Harry Potter Collectors Pins from FanSets. 

A relatively young company, FanSets has exploded in the pin markets. They have an extensive collection of pins ranging from Justice League to Firefly to Harry Potter and to the franchise that really helped them cement their spot as the go-to place for awesome pins, Star Trek. 

One of the things I love about them is their creativity. They don't just put out great products; they're really creative in their designs and execution. Like this for example. I never would have expected to see a blind bag collection for pins, but it works. It actually took me a while to find them. For weeks, every Target I went to was sold out. I got lucky. Take a look at the collection and let me know what you think.

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Random Thoughts: Is Hogwarts Handicapped Accessible?

The weather's cold, I'm huddling under blankets, so I've decided it's time for my annual Harry Potter reread. I'm only up to Chamber of Secrets, and it hit me: Hogwarts is huge and old and full of stairs. How does someone with a physical limitation, like a wheelchair, leg braces, a cane, muscular issues, get around? Seriously, look at all those stairs. Those would be rough for an able-bodied person. What accommodations are there for the physically-challenged?

Sure, Firenze was able to teach Astronomy on the ground floor, but what about students? Yes, a simple glisseo spell could be used, but even that's a problem, because the school is tall. Ramps/slides would be steep. The student who needs it would probably have to work twice as hard to get up them. So what do they do? Are there special schools for them? Wouldn't that be kind of messed up if they did? Or are there spells to fix disabilities? Is that ethically questionable? Why do I now have all these questions? I feel like I need to tweet JK Rowling and ask for her thoughts.


Has this been answered in the other books? If not, how do you think they compensate?

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Random Thoughts: Am I the Only One Who Noticed Snape taught Harry his Signature Move?

So, I'm going through one of my annual Harry Potter rereads, and after reading the Chamber of Secrets for the gazillionth time, it hit me. Snape taught Harry "Expelliarmus." The spell that went on to become Harry's "signature" move was introduced to him by a man he loathed.

When I say I've read the books a gazillion times, I'm only sort of exaggerating. Okay, I'm exaggerating a lot, but I really do reread the series at least once a year, usually two or three times, depending on how busy that year is. This is the first time I've made this connection. Maybe I'm a little slow, but whenever I see a post or listicle with Potter facts, I'm all over them, and I can't recall ever coming across anyone saying anything about the Snape - Expelliarmus connection.

Video Fun!

Here are some great videos making the rounds.

Finally, I meant to do this earlier but with finals and the holidays, I couldn't. In case you missed it, here is the gorgeous official trailer for The Hobbit.

Sunday Links for Dec. 4th

Do you think that your rights are violated at cons? Well, here is a list of rules and right that fans and the pros are entitled to from Peter David.
(via Comics Alliance)

If you are dying to see the first 6 minutes of The Dark Knight Rises, get planning. The studio has released the list of IMAX theaters that will get the clip.  It really depends though; do you want to help the Mission Impossible box office numbers....
(via Cinema Blend)

Still not sure how feel about the concept but they have locked down Andy Kubert as the artist for the Watchmen prequel.
(via Robot 6)

For everyone dying to make it to the Three Broomsticks for a drink, its about to get easier. They are planning to build a Harry Potter theme park in California as well as abroad.
(via Reuters)

Until next week....


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The Wait for Pottermore is Over!

I was feeling done in... couldn't win, then I checked my email and saw this, "Your Pottermore account is ready! Step this way..." Can you guess what I did next? If you guessed that I spent the next several hours exploring Pottermore then 5 points for your house. Aw heck, let's make it 10. I'm feeling generous.


So, how is it, you ask? It is not the be-all-end-all, greatest, revolutionary online experience ever, but it is pretty darn good. The graphics are exquisite. The first book is the only one available right now, but I can't wait for the others, just for the graphics. You never clearly see the main characters, but the impression is that of a hybrid between what the actors look like and the book art. Then it looks like it was painted and magically put online. (I know it's taken hours and hours of painstaking hard work but allow me my fantasy.)


You're taken through the Philosopher's Stone from beginning to end, chapter by chapter. You can collect cards, galleons, objects, books, and potion ingredients. For each chapter, you can zoom in to see more of the scene and unlock different information. For a couple of them, you have to do things like do a spell in order to progress. It's a lot of fun. 


The background information JK Rowling provides is interesting, but I have to admit, I did not read it all because I wanted to finish the story. But there are a lot of good nuggets of info. I particularly liked reading about Petunia and Vernon's courtship.

Diagon Alley is pretty great. You get to go into several different stores to purchase your supplies. After you do that, you get your wand. You're asked a bunch of questions, that to me make little sense, and then it's chosen for you. Mine is 12 3/4 inches, made of Sycamore with a dragon core and surprisingly swishy. 


Now, the moment everyone wants and waits for - The Sorting Ceremony. You have to wait until chapter seven before you get sorted. Then you answer some questions and get placed. I ended up in Slytherin; I'm a little surprised by that. I almost wish there was an option to say, "Not in Slytherin" if it was between that and Gryffindor, but alas, there's not, so a Slytherin I shall be (insert melodramatic music here). 


From then on, your house is your house. You get a welcome letter and get to see the common room. It's just a room that shows the points leader board and allows you to comment or chat with other Slytherins. It really does not affect how you progress in the story.


Unfortunately, Pottermore is not without its faults. I know the site is still in beta so there are bugs but some are just a little too problematic right now. The biggest one is the inability to handle the amount of traffic the site is getting. I've been getting a message saying, "unavailable, come back later", or " too much traffic, come back later." It's not even open to the public yet! This needs to be fixed ASAP. This is Harry Potter. You don't put something together that's this awesome and not make sure as many people as humanly and inhumanely possible get use it.


Another problem is you can cast spells, make potions, and duel with other people, yet the dueling is currently done and making potions is nearly impossible. I don't know what is needed, whether a mouse instead of a track pad or something else, but I have tried to make a cure for boils at least five times and each time something went wrong, particularly with my wand. I can't tell if it was me or the site, but it did not work and it is driving me crazy. Doing the spells is much easier than potions, but still very hard. Speaking of spells, if anyone knows how to unlock the other spells, please let me know!


Finally, it is also a little difficult to connect with friends on Pottermore. You can give permission to Facebook, and they will find everyone but only if those friends have connected to Facebook too. Also, since you have to choose a family friendly username, it is hard to know who is who. Through the Facebook Connect, I found some friends and sent them requests but when they accepted it didn't say, "Bob accepted." It said, "LeviosaFlight360 accepted." It is hard to be social when you do not have any kind of clue as to who is on the other end. 


Overall, I believe Pottermore has the potential to be something really special, but it still has a lot of work to do and it really needs to get the other books involved. But if you are a Potter fan then this is a great place for you to come, learn more about the universe, have some fun and maybe make a few new online friends. 


By the way, I'm PurpleBronze180, if you want to hang. 

Video Friday! 8/19/11

Happy Friday!!! Here's what's been floating around the web.

This has to be one of my all time favorite "celebrities doing awesomely funny things on tv" moments. Not only does Anne Hathaway prove she can rap but her "I can't believe I just did that" expression and blush makes the whole thing even better.



All I can say about this is WANT!



via Geeks Are Sexy

Dark Horse Comics posted this on their Facebook page and it was too good to resist. Who knew Ewoks could move?



This one raises a very good point. If they had the ability to go back in time, why not use it? Why leave it to a child to save the world? Just sayin'



via Dorkly

Finally, this shows us what people are really thinking when dealing with others in the game of office politics. Is it exaggerated? Of course, but it is also pretty true and that's what makes it great.



via The Awesomer

Have a fantabulous weekend!

Review: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part Two

WARNING!!! This post contains spoilers!

When I go to the movies, I try to be optimistic and believe the movie will be good and enjoyable, but I’m realistic. I know today’s movies tend to… well… suck. I’m not saying all movies suck, but there has been a considerable downturn in quality as of late. However, for the first time in years, I went into a movie not only excited but also certain it would be amazing. That movie was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part Two. Imagine my surprise when the movie I knew in my heart would be the most fitting and wonderful conclusion to a beloved series turned out to leave me disappointed and even a little angry.

If you have never read the books, then this movie is a great movie. It is well paced, well acted, and delivers great action. If you are like me and have read The Deathly Hallows ten to fifteen times, then you will find yourself getting absorbed in the movie only to be promptly yanked out of it when certain key moments or exchanges do not happen or are terribly altered.

CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS! DO NOT READ UNTIL AFTER VIEWING THE MOVIE. THEN COME BACK AND DISCUSS.

I know the movies are separate from the books. I know the story needed to concentrate on a central plot. I know many of the side characters would not get as much air-time as they deserved, but in order for me to fully get behind the movie, I needed certain parts to be there. These are what I wanted and how they were altered/cut:

1)   The Families. I was so upset that the Weasley family, excluding Ron and Ginny, was barely a part of the movie. They are there, but due to how the battle at Hogwarts was changed, the Weasleys barely speak. There was no Fred and George banter or Molly Weasley yelling at the kids while hugging the life out them or anything. I don't understand why Bill couldn't have had a line warning Harry not to trust goblins or why Percy's returning to the fold could not have been dealt with. I didn't even know Percy was in the movie until Wilderowens told me. This was an important plot point because it made Fred's death all the more painful. But it's not just the Weasleys I missed. There wasn't enough time to go into detail about Dumbledore's family, but even worse, Neville was denied a great moment because his grandmother doesn't get to join the fight and say how proud she was of him. To top that off, we're also denied Lupin and Harry fully reconciling, Lupin showing off his son and asking Harry to be godfather.

2)   Fred’s death. Why on earth was is not shown? It is one of the most emotionally gut-wrenching moments in the entire book. I cried when it happened. I’ve cried many times because the family has finally been completely reunited, only to have it brutally ripped away. Instead, we are treated to simply seeing his dead body, practically no Percy, and no seeing Ron’s grief and desire for revenge.

3)   “Not my daughter, you bitch!” Yes, it is in the movie, but because they lightened the emotional impact of Fred and barely showed the fight between Ginny and Bellatrix, it was just eh. It was cool, but I wanted to be able to cheer when this happened.

4)   The Elder Wand and Phoenix Wand. There is all this talk about wandlore and how the wand chooses the wizard, yet in the end, Harry explains why the Elder wand worked for him only to Ron and Hermione instead of Voldemort and everyone else. Worst of all, Harry does not use the Elder wand to fix his. He breaks it and tosses it. WTF? What is the point of putting it in if it's just going to be thrown away at the end?

5)   Ron/Hermione kiss. In the book, we all knew it was coming but we didn’t know when, and when it finally did, it was because Ron wanted to help get the house elves out and that meant so much to Hermione. In the movie, they go to get the Basilisk fang, kill the horcrux, get drenched in a trap of some sort, look at each other and kiss. Again, which one is more emotionally impacting? Would it really have killed them to just have Ron ask about the elves once they got back to Harry?

6)   Voldemort vs. Harry. I would have preferred the intense buildup of the book, where Harry is explaining everything to Voldemort as the tension grows until that fateful moment, but instead that’s not in there. The fall in the movie is cool but lacks the kick of Voldemort finding out about Snape, who the real master of the Elder wand is, etc.

7)   Neville and Nagini. One of the most kickass, amazing parts of the Deathly Hallows was  Neville Longbottom. From a gawky, clumsy kid to a young man willing to fight for what he believes in, Neville had one of the best character arcs of the entire series and his shining moment was when he stood up to Voldmort, was nearly killed by the Sorting Hat, rebounded with the Sword of Gryffindor, and sliced off Nagini’s head. It’s fantastic. So what does the movie do? It has Neville find the Sorting Hat, pick it up and see the sword in there, for no reason, and then when Voldemort asks for new Death Eaters, Neville gives a sappy speech about how even though Harry is dead, he still lives on in all of them and the work is not over. He eventually kills Nagini, but that was because it was attacking Ron and Hermione later on, not because Harry had told him to kill him.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of good in the movie too. The best example is how Snape is handled. I’ve always been a little annoyed at how Snape didn’t get nearly enough face time in the movies because a) he’s an important character and b) they had Alan fricking Rickman playing him! How do you not give HIM more screen time? That said his arc was handled perfectly. They finally did him justice. That was when I nearly lost it. It was beautiful.

The epilogue was also great. I loved that. The aging was subtle, but hilarious, particularly Ginny and Draco with Ron coming in third. It was just great. I couldn’t stop laughing. Maggie Smith's Professor McGonagall was fantastic. She's another one who never really got to show what she could do, but her scenes packed a punch. Hermione as Bellatrix was so funny and one of my all-time favorite moments was when the knights came to life. Badassery all around. I became giddy at that sight.

The movie isn’t bad, but I guess because of how practically pitch perfect Part One was, I expected more. I heard that this was the shortest of the Potter movies and if that is true, then they should have added a little more because they complicated parts that did not need complicating and watered down the emotional parts. If they had added just ten minutes with even a handful of what I mentioned above, it would have elevated the movie. What made Harry Potter so great was aside from it being a great fantasy epic, it was grounded by the depth of feelings that came from the characters. I wanted so much more from this movie but in the end, while it is decent, it did not truly live up to the high standards of the Harry Potter franchise. This was not how it was supposed to end.

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Harry Potter Video Friday! 7/15/11

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 opens today. It is a bittersweet moment that has been long waited for but now that it's here, many of us wish we had a little more time. Since we are celebrating Potter this week, it's only fitting that Video Friday be all about Harry. So here are some great vids I found this week.

Hallows (Harry Potter Parody of Halo by Beyonce) - watch more funny videos

So long Harry, Ron, and Hermoine! Thanks for the memories.

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Goodbye Mr. Potter, for now

This weekend brings the culmination of a story that started with a boy staring at a spider that entranced the world.  With it all getting ready to end, I am faced with a deluge of emotions.  Part of me is excited to see this film, the last one in a long line of films.  Part of me is even glad to see the Pottermania end, if only to let something new and exciting fill its void, and part of me is understandable sad to lose something that has been a part of me for a decade.  It feels like we are graduating with the Hogwarts Class of 2011.

For me, it all started in 2001, when my mom, the librarian, told me I had to read these books during my college break. I was a little hesitant to read what I thought were children's books but rather than listen to her nag, I read them. It was all downhill from there.  All of my friends read them, and we started attending the midnight releases. When the candy came out, Getsuyobi and I sat in Dunkin Donuts in the middle of the night, sorting out and trying each Bertie Botts flavor we had. I bought my mom a replica wand for her birthday, and of course, I went to midnight movie premieres.

The movies were the Potter thing I attached to the least at first. With the tremendous detail of the books, why bother getting too excited with the films? Of course, I was wrong again. These films stand on their own right and need to be seen as such. Once I was able to separate the two, I truly enjoyed them. Now, I am more excited to see how it all ends on film. I am even avoiding spoilers because if there are any changes from the book, I want to be surprised, even though I am always rereading the books.

So, until Pottermore releases, this is the end of new Harry Potter tales.  At least, I can revisit Harry, Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts every time I read the book or watch a movie. Because even if the story doesn't continue, I am content to go back to visit this fantastic world that J.K. Rowling created.

Let us know your favorite Harry moment in the comments!


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Pottermania Around NYC!

It's Harry Potter week here at [insertgeekhere]!

 

If you haven't heard by now, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two comes out this Friday (you didn't hear? Are you living under a rock?). Since this is the climatic ending of the beloved movies, people are trying to put together events to celebrate. Here are a few in and around New York.

The Muggle meet-up group, The Group That Shall Not Be Named, has several events planned including wand dueling lessons in Central Park on July 14th and a Victory Over Voldemort party in NJ on July 16th. Visit their Facebook page for more details on all the events going on.

On July 14th, Potterpocalypse! will be taking place at the Galapagos Art Space. There will be trivia, readings, costume contests, and even Potter themed burlesque performances.

If you are looking for a very special treat, stop by the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre on July 15th for A Harry Potter Musical performed by the Kirk Cameron Repertory Players (you read that right). Bringing Harry Potter books and Leonardo DiCaprio dvds is encouraged.

After the musical, feel free to stick around and catch the Hogwarts Improvisation Society's Annual Gala. Be sure to wear your house colors to support your house as battles are fought for eternal glory.

July 16th, Watson Adventures will be hosting a Harry Potter scavenger hunt at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Discover (rediscover) new and exciting art as you look for unicorns, mermaids, giants, dragons, and more. It's available for anyone ages 10 and up. Adult teams welcomed.

The team from New York Comic Con is hosting a meet-up at the legendary Ziegfeld Theatre on July 16th and 17th. Join them and other con goers for a fantastic time, which will include trivia and possible swag. Be sure to print out the coupon for a free 85 oz. popcorn (who eats 85 ounces of popcorn?)

Finally, if you need your Potter fix right now, head over to Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square. It is filled with over 200 props used in the past seven movies including the Sword of Gryffindor. Wilderowens has been there and will be posting her take on it later this week.

Have you heard of any other events going on? How do you plan on celebrating the end? Let us know at insertgeekhere@gmail.com.

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Sunday Links for July 10

This was a wacky week with the release of San Diego Comic Con programming schedules.  So, that means that the majority of news is that the programming schedules are being released.  Here are some other tidbits that you might have missed....

This week is really the beginning of the end with the final film installment of the Harry Potter series.  I hope you got tickets because over 2,000 screenings have already sold out, making it Fandango's "fastest-selling title of the year so far."

(via Cinema Blend)

Rumors are flying that the Playstation 4 will debut in 2012.  This new system will be upgraded with motion technology similar to kinect.  Hopefully, the one feature they leave behind is the crazy high price.

(via Mashable)

With all of the media overload, it is nice to look back and see what made you a fan.  JR Pepper of Pink Raygun does just that in this sweet article.

(via Pink Raygun)

Paramount has set up their very own animation studio.  With a new studio in house, Dreamworks Animation is being kicked to the curb.  

(via Den of Geek)

On the creepy newsfeed, this guy installed spyware on random computers in Apple Stores to take pictures of people for his art project.  Apple found out and the Secret Service shut him down.  I really hope he doesn't have a picture of me drooling over a laptop.

(via Geekologie)

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Sunday Links for July 3

Another fun and exciting week in the Geek Universe...

In DC reboot news, it turns out that some fans are upset about the upcoming changes. Who would've thunk it? Well they are taking the fight public with a protest at San Diego Comic Con. In other related news, Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston points out how pointless this protest is and starts a protest of their protest. In the end, the change is happening no matter what, so we all need to deal with it.

(via Robot 6, Bleeding Cool)

Google+ debuted this week with a little fanfare. Wysefyre managed to get in but can't send out invites yet. For a fun look at birth of a network, check out XKCD and Mashable.

(via XKCD, Mashable)

We are getting closer and closer to the final premiere of the final Harry Potter film....EVER!  *sad face*  To get you in the mood, go check out this Parseltongue translator.  It is kinda creepy, especially if you forget how loud your speakers are...

(via Parseltongue Translator)

MTV Geek found out that there are still plans for a Masters of the Universe movie.  This is more terrifying than the Parseltongue translator.  I fear for my childhood.

(via MTV Geek)

Have a Happy and Fun Independence Day!!!

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Sunday Links for June 26

The big news of the week was the unveiling of Pottermore, the newest addition to the Harry Potter universe.  It seems to be an expansion pack to the books, with additional backstory and an interactive element.  Even with the small amount of info given in the press release, this still seems like a shaky concept.  However, time will tell, so go and sign up for opening day.

(via Bleeding Cool, Pottermore)

We are wishing a Happy 10th Anniversary to American Gods, that released a bigger and better Anniversary edition this week. 
(via NerdBastards)

Image Comics announced that they are mimicing DC Comics' rating system due to customer requests.  With two large publishers following this system, will more follow?

(via Newsarama)

This week, it was announced that David Goyer will be bringing 100 Bullets to the small screen.  Showtime has jumped on the graphic novel bandwagon and I am glad they are bringing a comic veteran to work on this project.  

(via HyperGeek)

Torchwood: Miracle Day is fast approaching and this time it comes with a fun side story.  They are releasing a motion comic to watch along with the show, starring Eliza Dushku.  The only downside is that you have to pay to watch and play along, with the entire comic costing $2.99 on iTunes.

(via Geek to Me)

In the awesome column this week, check out this Lego rendition of Rapture from Bioshock.  This is a crazy amount of detail, which is just mind-boggling!

(via Geekologie)

Now go and get ready for tonight's True Blood premiere and I will see you next week!

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Musical Friday - Potter-Mania!!!

The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is out today! Yay! So naturally, I had to find the oddest yet most popular Harry Potter videos floating around.

Harry Potter (Before We Say Goodbye)



Parodying Train's "Hey Soul Sister," JamesAtWar has a great voice, and knows how to tug at one's heartstrings. The lyrics are great and the kids are just too darn cute! It's a really sweet ode to Harry Potter.

Harry Potter in the Hood w/Kamen Edwards



I'll be honest, I have no idea what to say about this one. I couldn't stop laughing, and I noticed Kamen seems to be wearing a lot of makeup. Harry gettin' gangsta' - 'Nuff said.

The Harry Potter Rap



An oldie but a messed up goodie. Ever notice how a lot of the parodies talk about Harry hooking up with ALL the ladies? Except for our final video...

Harry Potter Rap! - Flo Rida/Guetta Parody



I have to thank The Girly Nerds for introducing me to this. I think this might be my favorite of the bunch. I love this song and it's just so much fun!

And there you have it! Who else is excited about The Deathly Hallows? Who's seeing it this weekend? You know even Dementors couldn't keep the IGH team from seeing it. Let's us know what you think!