Denise Roper's Blog, page 8
June 6, 2011
New Harry Potter Video Released by WB, More Posters from DH2, and Podcast News
This is a lovely retrospective video of the making of the Harry Potter series with a preview of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two.
Watching Daniel, Rupert, and Emma grow up together on screen has been an amazing emotional journey for the cast, crew, and the fans. There will never be another film series like this one. What an incredible accomplishment!
Neville Longbottom
I am looking forward to seeing Neville standing up to Voldemort as well as Neville's epic battle with Nagini.
Draco Malfoy. Are the Malfoys evil, mislead, or misunderstood? I wonder how the Draco's family will be portrayed in the final film.
I love all of the new posters. These are three more of my favorites. 
If you listen to SQPN's Secrets of Harry Potter podcast, our next episode will be a Father's Day show. We are discussing the roles of Arthur Weasley, James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Xenophilius Lovegood, and Lucius Malfoy as fathers or father-figures in the series. I was fascinated by this interview with J. K. Rowling, in which Arthur Weasley is discussed, and thought we could launch a great discussion from it.
From J. K. Rowling's Interview with Merdith Vieira on Dateline MSNBC, posted at http://www.accio-quote.org/
VO: [clip of Arthur Weasley in 'Order of the Phoenix'] One character, Arthur Weasley, the father of Harry's friend, Ron, seen here in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', actually got a new lease on life.
JKR: When I sketched out the books, Mr. Weasley was due to die in Book 5.
MV: So what happened there? Why did he get the reprieve?
JKR: Well, I swapped him for someone else, and I don't want to say who, for the people who haven't– read. But I– I made a decision as I went into writing Phoenix that I was going to reprieve Mr. Weasley and I was going to kill someone else. And if you finish the book, I– I expect you probably know and someone else who is a father. Because I– I wanted there to be an echo of– of Harry's loss of parents. And you probably know who I'm talking about if you've finished the book. But– so there are two characters who are killed instead in Seven. So Mr. Weasley did get attacked, as you know, in Five. But he would have died if I'd have stuck to the original plan. But he survived. I had to keep him alive partly– partly because I couldn't bear to kill him.
MV: But there were two that weren't supposed to die that did end up dying.
JKR: Yeah, yeah. I swapped them for Mr. Weasley. But they didn't then die until Seven.
MV: So as an author, then, there were certain characters you couldn't bear to part with?
JKR: If there's one character I couldn't bear to part with, it's Arthur Weasley. And I think part of the reason for that is there were very few good fathers in the books. In fact, you could make a very good case for Arthur Weasley being the only good father in the whole series.
VO: [clip from 'Order of the Phoenix'] Jo was especially reluctant to lose Mr. Weasley because Harry had already lost so many father figures: his godfather Sirius Black and Hogwarts school headmaster Dumbledore. They were victims in the struggle against evil arch villain Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents when he was just a baby.
So what do you think? Is Arthur Weasley the only good father in the series? Comments are welcome!
May 25, 2011
Promotional Images from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
These are some of the best Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 promotional images released so far! Enjoy.
May 23, 2011
Empire Magazine Deathly Hallows Part 2 Covers, New DH2 Poster, and More!
Empire magazine's tribute to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will feature the following eye-catching covers:
Hermione, Harry, and Ron magazine cover.
Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint magazine cover.
Here's the latest poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
And finally, here are some of my favorites from the many new photos that have been recently appearing on various Harry Potter fan sites.
There can never be too much Ron/Hermione hand-holding.
This is just how I imagined this scene would look when I read the book.
Can we say EPIC FINALE? 54 days and counting…
May 22, 2011
Ron/Hermione Romance Discussed at "The Film Pilgrim"
Here's a quote from an article over at The Film Pilgrim that I thought many of you would enjoy. Link: http://www.thefilmpilgrim.com/features/beastly-couples/3374. Besides my Harry Potter favorite couple, Ron and Hermione, the article mentions another favorite pairing of mine, Han Solo and Princess Leia from the Star Wars saga. The two couples have a great deal in common: the male is sarcastic, brave, witty, and a loyal friend to the saga's main hero. The female is bossy, intelligent, courageous, outspoken, and not afraid to tell off the stubborn male when he is being a prat. Remember when Leia called Han a "scruffy-looking nerf herder"? Or when Hermione told Ron that he has the "emotional range of a teaspoon"? They bicker constantly, make each other jealous, and even have some heated arguments, but all of that is to hide their true feelings for one another.
Ron and Hermione, The Harry Potter Saga
"I heard it. A voice. Your voice, Hermione. You said my name. Just my name. Like a whisper. So I took it, clicked it and this tiny ball of light appeared. And I knew. It flew towards me, the ball of light, right through my chest and straight through me. Right here… and I knew it was going to take me where I needed to go."
Yup. Ron and Hermione, one of the oddest couples to grace the silver screen. She's bookish, highly logical and (let's face it) a bit of a killjoy. He's… well, he's the complete opposite. Fans of the books have known these two were destined to be since forever, whereas fans of the film probably only realised it around movie number four, The Goblet Of Fire, where Ron gets just a little too jealous of Hermione's date to the ball. And has a little too much of a jaw-drop moment when he sees her "transformed" into a beauty… she basically did her hair, added a little more eye makeup and stuck a dress on, but he is a boy, after all. Let's give him credit for noticing at all.
Still not officially together, the last movie saw Ron revealing how Hermione has touched his heart, as well as a little sneaky handholding, a world of jealousy and a testosterone-fuelled rescue from the demented Bellatrix Lestrange. Will they finally lock lips in the final installment later this year? Erm, they'd better. It's one of the slowest burning love affairs to ever captivate audiences across the globe… and we're stoked on seeing some major fireworks when the pair finally get it on.
I think that the quote "one of the slowest burning love affairs to ever captivate audiences across the globe" sums it up rather nicely.
May 13, 2011
May 8, 2011
The Secrets of Harry Potter Episode #67: Mummy Dearest!
I am now a regular panel member on the Secrets of Harry Potter podcast. 
Please listen to our Mother's Day Episode at http://harrypotter.sqpn.com/2011/05/07/shp067-mummy-dearest and let us know what you think of it. Our panel was having their discussion late Thursday night on Skype and there's some microphone noise there. (Sorry about that! It wasn't me.) The mic wasn't picking up my voice very clearly at the beginning, but I think it was working better after a while. Anyway, I thought we had a great discussion about Lily Potter, Petunia Dursley, Molly Weasley, Merope Gaunt, Augusta Longbottom, and Bellatrix LeStrange. When you click on the link, hit the Facebook "Like" button. You can also follow Ari, Bob, Lyn, Jim, and me on Twitter. You can follow The Secrets of Harry Potter on our new Twitter account at SQPNPotter. Help us spread the word about our show!
May 5, 2011
New On-set and Behind-the-Scenes Photos from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One
The Trio in London.
In this deleted scene, a jealous Ron watches Hermione dancing with Viktor Krum.
An injured Ron listening to the Wizarding Wireless.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione outside of the Burrow.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron in London.
Rupert Grint as Ron and Emma Watson as Hermione relaxing at the Burrow.
April 28, 2011
List of Harry Potter Unofficial Guidebooks
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Harry_Potter_unofficial_guidebooks
How many of these books have you read? I have read most (but not all) of them and have met several of the authors, including John Granger, Travis Prinzi, Connie Neal, Logospilgrim, Eryn Pyne, Ed Kern, James W. Thomas, George Beahm, Steve Vander Ark, and Melissa Anelli. Oh, yeah. I wrote one of the books on the list also. 
Essays and Literary Critiques
These include book analysis, studies, theories, philosophy, essay compilations, and literary criticisms.
What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Falls in Love and How Will the Adventure Finally End by Emerson Spartz, Ben Schoen, Andy Gordon, Gretchen Stull and Jamie Lawrence of MuggleNet.com
Mugglenet.com's Harry Potter Should Have Died: Controversial Views from the #1 Fan Site by Emerson Spartz and Ben Schoen, published by Ulysses Press
The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter by Geo Trevarthen, published by O Books
The End of Harry Potter? An Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries that Remain by David Langford
The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices by Edmund M. Kern
Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts by David Baggett
The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination of the Boy Who Lived (Psychology of Popular Culture series) by Neil Mulholland PhD
The Gospel According to Harry Potter: The Spiritual Journey of the World's Greatest Seeker (Gospel According to) by C. W. Neal
How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mania for J. K. Rowling's Bestselling Books by John Granger
Critical Perspectives on Harry Potter by Elizabeth E. Heilman
Values of Harry Potter: Lessons for Muggles by Ari Armstrong
Bring forth the best robes by Logospilgrim
Does Harry Potter Tickle Sleeping Dragons? by Nancy Solon Villaluz
Political Issues in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series (Social Issues in Literature) by Dedria Bryfonski
Harry Potter & Imagination: The Way Between Two Worlds by Travis Prinzi
Repotting Harry Potter: A Professor's Book-by-Book Guide for the Serious Re-Reader by James W. Thomas
Reading Harry Potter Again: New Critical Essays by Giselle Liza Anatol
Hog's Head Conversations: Essays on Harry Potter, Volume 1 by Travis Prinzi
The flawed master: lessons Professor Snape taught me by Logospilgrim
The Law and Harry Potter by Jeffrey E. Thomas
Destiny Unfulfilled: A Critique of the Harry Potter Series by Jim Adam
The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series) by William Irwin
Guides, Folklore, Mythology
Guides and facts based in the book series. Includes encyclopedic books.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter ] by Tere Stouffer, published by Penguin Group
The Hidden Myths in Harry Potter: Spellbinding Map and Book of Secrets by David Colbert, published by St. Martin's Press
Fact, Fiction, and Folklore in Harry Potter's World: An Unofficial Guide by George Beahm
The Lexicon: An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction by Steve Vander Ark, published by RDR Books
The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter by David Colbert, published by Penguin Group (Read a review (here))
The Potter Pensieve: Trivial Delights from the World of Harry Potter by Karen Farrington and Lewis Constable
A Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter by Allan Zola Kronzek & Elizabeth Kronzek
Field Guide to Harry Potter by Colin Duriez
The Deathly Hallows Lectures: The Hogwarts Professor Explains the Final Harry Potter Adventure by John Granger
Harry Potter's Bookshelf: The Great Books behind the Hogwarts Adventures by John Granger
The Lord of the Hallows: Christian Symbolism and Themes in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter by Denise Roper<<<<This lovely little book is available from www.outskirtspress.com/thelordofthehallows.
Franchise and Fandom
Books based on the sucess of the actual series, franchise, and fandom.
Muggles and Magic: An Unofficial Guide to J.k. Rowling and the Harry Potter Phenomenon by George W. Beahm
Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli
Azkatraz 2009: Inside the Cell by Erin A. Pyne
Harry Potter and the Order of the Court: The J.K. Rowling Copyright Case and the Question of Fair Use by Robert S. Want
GradeSaver (TM) ClassicNotes: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by Caitlin Vincent
The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to The Harry Potter Fandom by Erin A. Pyne
Others
Miscellaneous books that don't fall into other categories.
Trivia and Fun
Harry Pottiness: A Totally Unofficial Book of Muggle Fun by Richard Dungworth
The Book of Harry Potter Trifles, Trivias, and Particularities by Racheline Maltese
J.K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling (Biography (a & E)) by Colleen Sexton
J. K. Rowling: A Biography (Unauthorized Edition) by Connie Ann Kirk
J. K. Rowling, Updated 2007: The Wizard Behind Harry Potter by Marc Shapiro
April 27, 2011
The Official Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie Trailer
These clips are gifs that I just reblogged on Tumblr. (I didn't make them, but aren't they great?) Snape, Remus/Tonks, Ron crying over Fred, and a Ron/Hermione action scene…I love the new Deathly Hallows Part 2 trailer!
April 26, 2011
Lots of New Photos from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2!
Neville/Luna?!?
The source of these photos from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is http://www.portkey.it/galleries/thumbnails.php?album=387&page=1. When I was on their site earlier today there were 67 new Deathly Hallows Part 2 pictures posted there. When I saw them, I thought, "Snape! Ron/Hermione in the Chamber of Secrets! Ron & Hermione in Gringotts! and Neville with the Sword of Gryffindor! Oh, yeah… Harry is in this movie, too." These are just a few of my favorite photos from the collection. :)
