Vulcan Stev Family Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Starring:
Daniel Radcliffe …  Harry Potter
Emma Watson …  Hermione Granger
Rupert Grint …  Ron Weasley
Ralph Fiennes …  Lord Voldemort
Natalia Tena …  Nymphadora Tonks
Brendan Gleeson …  Alastor ‘Mad-­Eye’ Moody
Gary Oldman …  Sirius Black
Mark Williams …  Arthur Weasley
David Thewlis …  Remus Lupin
Maggie Smith …  Minerva McGonagall
Julie Walters …  Molly Weasley
Timothy Bateson …  Kreacher
James Phelps …  Fred Weasley
Oliver Phelps …  George Weasley
Bonnie Wright …  Ginny Weasley
Robert Hardy …  Cornelius Fudge
Jason Isaacs …  Lucius Malfoy
Chris Rankin …  Percy Weasley
Michael Gambon …  Albus Dumbledore
Imelda Staunton …  Dolores Umbridge
Alan Rickman …  Severus Snape
Emma Thompson …  Sybil Trelawney

Synopsis from IMDb: As another year begins for Harry, at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry so does the never-ending articles stating that he and Dumbledore are insane. As the ministry starts to invent new and malicious lies about Harry’s account on Voldemort’s return, Hogwarts begins to change for the worse as the ministry sends in their cure for all the insanity, Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge. As she begins to inflict her rules and regulations on the students at Hogwarts they begin to find that with her as their teacher, they’ll never be ready for the outside world. So Harry along with his friends decides to take things into their own hands and begin to learn magic the real way. As Harry starts having visions of terrible events happening with the Ministries very walls he decides to take action, leading himself and his friends into battle, ultimately teaching them what friendship, loyalty and sacrifice really means

VS – 1.8 pointed ears
Last movie, Ron was acting out of character.  This movie Ron and Hermione stand up for Harry against all.  Harry is pushing away everyone close to him.  At least a reason for this behavior is given on screen and has been established before.   Even though, according to my children, much was missing from the novel I didn’t feel that was anything missing.  Daniel Radcliffe is showing some maturity as an actor.  I only hope that he isn’t typecast by this series of films.

My only complaint with this film is that it is marketed as a children’s movie.  This is a VERY dark movie the only reason that it could even be remotely called a children’s movie is because the series which it is part of  is considered children’s literature.  Had this movie been produced as a stand alone, I’m not sure I would’ve taken my youngest to see it.

Mrs. VS – 1 pointed ear.
I haven’t sat down and watched this movie with my family.  The few scenes that I have seen can be pretty scary for younger impressionable viewers.

PIT #1 – 1.25 pointed ears.
This was the Reader’s Digest filmed version of the novel.  Harry Potter for Dummies would’ve made a better movie.  The script left wa-a-y too much of the novel out of the movie.  Even in scenes that were filmed the producers changed what was written.  Delores Umbridge was not even shown the way she was described in the novel.

PIT #2 – 1.7 pointed ears.
I don’t agree with Dad.  There were plenty of places that needed more explanation.  This movie could’ve used another 45 minutes.

PIT #3 – 1.8 pointed ears
The kissing scene could’ve been cut to make room for more action.  I’m very upset over the death of Sirius Black.

7.55 pointed ears out of 10.

This movie definitely suffers from to-be-continueditis.  I will state that having seen all five movies in nearly marathon sitting, there is definitely an over all arc to the story.  If you own other four movies you probably own this one as well.  If you’re contemplating buying the series in preparation for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, then yes you’ll need to see the first five movies for the sixth to make sense.

Game Night 2-27-09: Stargate SG-21

I have been waiting to to write this up for three weeks.  After the first open game night at the youth center in town we had some setbacks.  The second week was scrubbed due to a basketball game between the two high schools that account for 90% of the teens who hang out at the youth center.  The following week the youth center was open for a Valentine’s Day Dance, no game night.  Last week was inclement weather that kept most everyone at home.

Last night, I had six of the original thirteen interested players show up ready to play.  We played Ron Fricke’s Savage Worlds adaptation of Alderac’s Stargate SG-1.  I had two main reasons for using the SW ruleset; the first was that I find SW to be one of the easiest systems to explain to new players and two I’ll be able to use Reality Blurs’ Rune Punk SW setting as a Stargate world.  I’ll explain that more in a later blog.

The players ranged in age from 10 – 17.  The youngest is PIT#3, through a fore-knowledge of the hook the GM (me) was suing to determine rank in the SGC ended up being a Lt. Col.  The other players weren’t happy with it but are at least giving him a chance to prove he can be the team  leader.  Kudos to the other players for showing the maturity necessary to keep the peace.

SG-21 teamed up with SG-18 and went off to provide backup to SG-1 who had been overrun by Jaffa.  Upon exiting the Stargate, SGs 18 & 21 faced off against 24 Jaffa wielding staff weapons.  Showing a remarkable unity for a team that had just been brought together, SG-21 along with the NPC team of SG-18 defeated all 24 Jaffa with only minor injuries.

Just as the last Jaffa fell to a tossed hand grenade, Colonel O’Neil’s face came across the radio, “Col. Winston, dial up Earth we’re coming in hot.  Jaffa on our tail.”  SG-1 appeared over the rise on the run followed by another two dozen Jaffa.  The PCs secured the gate and wiped out another platoon of Jaffa.  After returning to the SGC, General Hammond told then job well done.

48 hours later SG-21 was called to the briefing room.  Daniel Jackson and SG-1 had retrieved a parchment containing the gate address for a planet rich in Naquada.  SG-1 made a first contact to the P4X-514, designated Scatterpoint by the natives.  SG-21 has been ordered to Scatterpoint to determine the societal mores and ruling body of the planet so as to strike a bargain for the Naquada.  Next week we go through the gate.

Scatterpoint is of course the world in Reality Blurs’ Rune Punk.  I’ll talk more about how I’ve home brewed that setting into the Stargate universe.

Report on Open Game Night 2-27-09

At 6:00 pm Steve Nibbelink was at the Youth Center setting up tables, turning up the heat and making sure everything was ready to go.  By 6:30 people started arriving.  By 7:00 there were four adults, four teenagers, and six children attending open game night.  These numbers include a new family that asked questions about game night, Wednesday evening services, and Sunday services.

The teenagers and two of the children played Stargate SG-21 hosted by Steve Nibbelink, while the new family sampled the various games in the game room and played Hungry, Hungry Hippos with the other adult leader and the remaining two children.  Youth Center closed at 9:00 and everyone stayed until closing.

RIP Common Sense

I just had to share this with everyone.

From the London Times:

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the Worm; Life isn’t always fair; and Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers: I Know My Rights; I Want It Now; Someone Else Is To Blame; and I’m A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Vulcan Stev’s Family Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Starring:

Daniel Radcliffe …  Harry Potter
Emma Watson …  Hermione Granger
Rupert Grint …  Ron Weasley 
Timothy Spall …  Wormtail (Peter Pettigrew)
David Tennant …  Barty Crouch Junior
Mark Williams …  Arthur Weasley
James Phelps …  Fred Weasley
Oliver Phelps …  George Weasley
Bonnie Wright …  Ginny Weasley
Jeff Rawle …  Amos Diggory
Robert Pattinson …  Cedric Diggory
Jason Isaacs …  Lucius Malfoy
Tom Felton …  Draco Malfoy
Stanislav Ianevski …  Viktor Krum

Synopsis from IMDb: Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for his fourth year.  This year however, Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament. Students must be over 17 to enter, with the winner receiving eternal glory. Harry can’t enter it this year…or can he. When his name is read out from the Goblet of Fire, everyone assumes that Harry Potter has cheated. Harry insists that he never placed his name in there, with someone else behind it. But Who? Harry must now survive through dragons, sea creatures and a terrifying maze, all before coming face-to-face with a particular dark wizard.

Vulcan Stev: 1.75 pointed ears
I understand from my children and IMDb that there was quite a few cuts made to the novel to fit the entire novel in a two and half hour movie, but even could sense something was amiss.  Aside from seeing the Doctor whenever David Tennant was on screen, the were quite a few places where I was left scratching my head.  First it’s a Triwizard tournament, so why does the Goblet spew forth Harry’s name after selecting the three champions.  This magical device doesn’t know how to count?  Do the students at Hogwart’s honestly think Harry is a better wizard than Dumbledore, that he’s actually able to beat the enchantments set by the headmaster of Hogwarts and cheat?

This may be covered in the novel, but Ron acted completely out of character when he disbelieved Harry.  I did NOT buy Ron’s behavior.  There was no logical reason for Ron’s sudden distrust of Harry.  If the novel provided some clue as to why Ron felt like he did, it should have been left in the script.  I enjoyed the movie but felt that there were missing pieces.  My feeling is that if a studio is going to make a movie out of a novel do it right.  At least the Dursleys weren’t in this movie.

Mrs. VS – 1.5 pointed ears
My family enjoys this.  There are some places where younger viewers might be a little scared.  This movie is rated PG-13 for a reason

PIT #1 1.5 pointed ears
Where the producers DID film the novel they got it right.  However they left wa-a-ay too much out for my tastes.  They could have easily added another 30 – 45 minutes to add some of the sub-plots.

PIT #2 – 1.7 pointed ears
Ron acted completely out of character in the first half of the movie.  He’s supposed to be Harry’s best friend.

PIT #3 - 1.95 pointed ears
This movie felt too short to me.  I think that they could have told us more about the backstory.

8.4 pointed ears out of 10.  This movie is definitely part of a series and does not stand well on its own.  Warner Bros.  assumes that by this time there are no first time viewers to the series.  I can’t say that this is a accurate assessment on the studio’s part.

Day 44 of being a cancer survivor

Last week Friday, Mrs. VS had one of the two drains removed.  Suddenly over the weekend the remaining drain dropped to less than half it’s normal output.  Concerned, she set up an appointment with Dr. D.  The second drain came out yesterday.  The reason the output decreased so drastically was that the tubing had clogged inside the chest cavity. (editor’s note: yuck!).

Mrs. VS is supposed to keep an eye on the area of the removed breast.  She goes back to Dr. D. on Friday, unless the area becomes “squishy”, then she goes back sooner.  Friday Dr. D will determine whether the drain needs to reinserted or not.  So we’re still in a holding pattern.

Regardless of the outcome of the drain.  Mrs. VS will not be starting chemo until after March 14th.   March 14th is the day she needs to take a professional exam necessary for her to keep her employment.  Mrs. VS does not want decreased stamina resulting from chemo to be a determining factor in the outcome of the exam.

Game Night 2-22-09

Two weeks ago I joined up with PIT #1s Sunday afternoon gaming group.  I hadn’t played D&D since High School.  The GM is my age and had been running this adventure for 6 teenagers for the past six months or so.  My daughter invited me to come along.  We rolled up Nevets Belin, a 3rd level, gnome, Fighter/Cleric.  The PCs had already started the adventure when I joined.  The DM decided that my character had been sent on the quest previously only to see my entire party wiped out by the first trap.

Nevets developed a fear of doors.  I’ve played this up as we’ve continued through the dungeon.  Nevets has his trusty mace and was given a Sun Sword by a Kender in the party.

Anyway we left it last time with the party just having defeated the Orcs in one of the rooms.  I came home psyched about the game.  PITs #2&3 wanted to play.  I cleared it with the DM and brought them along this week.

Enter Bawb, the Militant Wizard Dwarf and Hawrayn, the Savage Wizard Half-Elf.  While the boys were rolling out their characters, Nevets and the party stumbled across a 15th Level Goblin Mage and his class of Mage wannabes.  The party attacked.  Nevets cast a spell to make magic casting harder while the party battled the Goblins.  The party wasn’t doing well as Nevets and the Goblin Mage cast another spell at the same time.  The Mage cast Time Stop just as Nevets cast Sanctify.  Nevets and the Mage were the only ones unaffected by Stop Time.

Nevets lunged at the Goblin Mage with his mace and Sun Sword, being ambidextrous he successfully attacked the Mage.  However, the Mage cast a Fireball.  Nevets went up like a marshmallow.  Toasted to within 3 points of his life Nevets called a truce and asked the Mage what he wanted.  The Mage replied he just wanted to get his students out.  The DM admitted after the Mage left, that Nevets had battled him to within a point.  Ah well, Nevets is a Lawful/Good and probably sensed that the Mage was near death.

The party entered the next room only to find it completely dark.  Nevets cast a Fairie Light spell and revealed the antagonists in this room to be four Drow after the party dispatched the Drow we discovered Bawb and Hawrayn tied up in the room.  This is when the main threat revealed itself, a Dryder.  The whole party with the exception of Thief in the party worked together to defeat the menace.  Hawrayn summoned bats and was quite happy with his new pets.

Last room for the day.  While the party was dealing with living moss, Nevets was studying the red dragon rune in the floor and discovered that the scales were movable.  After successfully figuring out the proper sequence, a spiral staircase was revealed in the floor.  Screams of pain and anguish echoed up into the chamber.  Every Lawful/Good character immediately ran towards the screams….

That’s where left off.  Can’t wait for the next game.

Goober’s Words of Wisdom 2-22-09

Pastor’s sermon Was about the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida, Mark 8:22-26.  Pastor made special mention of the fact that in Hebrew Bethsaida means “House of Bread”.  Goober and Ricky assumed that Pastor was going to be opening a grocery store that catered to blind people.

Goober got milk, cereal, and bread.  Ricky got blindfolded and his brother Micky got to play guide.  Goober tried to convince Pastor Gary that Jesus wanted us to open grocery stores for the blind.

After Pastor Gary explained the nature of the miracle, Jesus spitting in the dirt and smearing mud on the blind man’s eyes, Goober got excited.  Was Jesus advocating playing in the mud?  Did Grandma lie when she advocated cleanliness was next to Godliness?

Pastor assured Goober that it was still important to bathe.   Goober agreed to go listen to the sermon.

Gaming in the Universe of: Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

There are many RPGs available for the swashbuckler in you.  Atomic Sock Monkey’s Monkey Ninja Pirate Robot: The Role Playing Game, Alderac Entertainment’s 7th Sea, and my personal favorite Pinnacle’s Savage World’s setting Pirates of the Spanish Main are just a few of what’s available when I googled Pirate RPGs.

Pirates of the Spanish Main is actually the game that got me back into role playing after more than twenty years.  My children and I enjoy this game on a regular basis.  In fact my RPG Blog Carnival postfor February was about monsters from the Pirates movies as stated out for PotSM.

Gaming in the PotC universe would involve running into the movie’s characters or actually playing them in your favorite swashbuckling setting.  My own preference for gaming is in playing characters of my own creation.  I do not have a problem in games I’m GMing with running into established characters.  As such I am providing Savage Worlds stats for some of the main characters.  These character stats assume that you are meeting the characters between the events of Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End.

Captain Jack Sparrow:
Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d10
Skills: Boating d12+1, Fighting d10, Guts d8, Intimidate d10+1, Knowledge (Battle) d10, Notice d10, Persuasion d8, Shooting d12+2, Stealth d10, Streetwise, d8+1, Survival d8, Swimming d8, Taunt d6, Tracking d8
Charisma +4; Pace 6, Parry 10, Toughness 7
Fame -45
Hindrances: Cocky, Trouble Magnet, Vow to keep the Black Pearl at all costs
Edges: Acrobat, Charismatic, Alertness
Gear:Includes an enchanted compass that points to whatever the holder desires most.

 

Captain Hector Barbosa:
Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d6, Spirit d10, Strength d10, Vigor d8
Skills: Boating d12+2, Fighting d12+2, Guts d10, Intimidate d10+1, Knowledge (Battle) d8, Notice d8, Shooting d10, Stealth d10, Streetwise, d8+1, Throwing d8
Charisma -2; Pace 6, Parry 11, Toughness 8
Fame -50
Hindrances: Ugly, Code of Honor, Habit (Eating Apples and letting the juice run through his beard)
Edges: Captain, Grit, Command, Command Presence

Will Turner:
Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d10
Skills: Boating d10, Fighting d12, Guts d8, Intimidate d10+1, Knowledge (Battle) d10, Notice d10, Persuasion d8, Shooting d12+2, Stealth d10, Streetwise, d8, Survival d8, Tracking d8
Charisma +4; Pace 6, Parry 10, Toughness 7
Fame -30
Hindrances: Heroic, Code of Honor, Vow to free his father from the Flying Dutchman 
Edges: Attractive, Level Headed, Gifted Leader, Wanted

Elizabeth Swann
Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d8, Spirit d12, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Boating d8, Fighting d10, Guts d8, Intimidate d8, Knowledge (Battle) d6, Notice d10, Persuasion d12+2, Shooting d8, Stealth d10, Survival d8, Taunt d6, Tracking d8
Charisma +6; Pace 6, Parry 8, Toughness 5
Fame -32
Hindrances: Curious, Heroic, Wanted
Edges: Attractive, Very Attractive, Nobel, Rich

Commodore James Norrington:
Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d10
Skills: Boating d10, Climbing d6, Fighting d10, Guts d8, Knowledge (Battle) d10, Notice d10, Shooting d12+2, Stealth d10,  Survival d8, Tracking d8
Charisma +1; Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 6
Fame +20
Hindrances: Loyal, Heroic, Code of Honor
Edges: Command, Master and Commander, Captain
Gear:

Life Near an Iowa Cornfield

Randomness from the Vulcan Stev Family:

Mrs. VS had one of the drains removed yesterday.  Chemo starts as soon as the second one comes out.  She is NOT looking forward to starting chemo.

PIT #1 had all of her wisdom teeth pulled yesterday.  She was blessed with both her mother’s and father’s crooked wisdom teeth.  She’s taking it better than I did when I had mine pulled.

Nearly finished with with my “Gaming in the PotC Universe” article.  Just to finish statting out the main characters.

Last night’s game night had very few actually show up.  The first night was a rousing success, followed by a basketball game between the two schools that 90% of the players attend, A Valentine’s dance that took over the youth center and then last night when no one showed due to weather.  I have got to get some material for a pick up game in a different setting than the Stargate game.  I’m thinking something in either ML20 or Prime Time adventures.

I was actually open for business the entirety of this week (first time this year).  I had so much Pepsi product that the driver couldn’t load it all on his truck.  Still not sure about being open today.  I’m out of fire wood and it’s well below freezing here.

I’m also in a quandary.  The D&D 2.0 game I joined that plays on Sunday afternoon does so at the same time as the NASCAR race.  Sunday afternoons have traditionally been my time with PITs #2 & 3 as we watch the race together.  Don’t want make my boys feel excluded by dropping NASCAR in favor of D&D with PIT #1