HBO aired a brief behind-the-scenes video from Game of Thrones tonight, giving us our first look at several of the new characters. Is it April yet? (via)
Hunger Games trailer may be attached to Twilight
A Hunger Games fansite came across a flyer instructing projectionists to attach the Hunger Games trailer to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. While it makes perfect business sense to market Hunger Games to the Twilight audience, I’ve never been so thankful for the internet.
In other news, there’s a new photo of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen that, from her outfit, I’d guess dates from early in the film.
Do your hair with Twilight tools. No, seriously.
Coming to a Meijer near you… Twilight branded hair-styling tools. Includes an ‘Edward 1/2-Inch Hair Straightener.’ (Seriously!) Your move, Lucasfilm… Your move. (via)
Pottermore making changes, delaying opening
Pottermore finally speaks to what’s going on with the website. As we whined about earlier, the site has been having a hard time dealing with the volume since the last big batch of beta testers was added.
The Pottermore staff says they were surprised by how people have been using the site and that this has contributed to the load problems. They have decided to delay the general public opening until the end of October and, even then, they will bring people on in waves.
And sorry, folks. Dueling is still down for now!
Review: Pottermore needs more… servers
The interactive Harry Potter website Pottermore, announced in June, has finished enrolling its last beta testers.
I somehow lucked out on hitting the site when one of the Magical Quill qualifying rounds opened. This method involved having the hopeful answer a trivia question and then head to another webpage to find the magical quill. Click on it in time and you’re in! Continue reading “Review: Pottermore needs more… servers”
Daniel Radcliffe: Potter created “appetite for reading”
Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog
Like Shatner before him, Daniel Radcliffe also has some words about Star Wars in this clip, but he’s pretty classy about it, focusing on how Potter has inspired kids to read. Here’s the quote:
“I always think that that’s one of the wonderful things about ‘Potter’ and the ‘Potter’ fan base,” he continues. “If you think about the other big costume-wearing [franchises] that go with it, things like ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Star Trek,’ with ‘Potter,’ because it started off as a literary thing, has created a generation of the same kind of mentality … with an appetite for reading and literature, which is kind of amazing.”
Sure, Star Wars and Star Trek have their share of successful tie-ins, but I doubt they’ve gotten as many kids reading as Potter, where books are the cornerstone.
UPDATE: Radcliffe tells Moviefone that the only Star Wars movie he’s seen is The Phantom Menace. Oh, Danrad. Someone is already getting him the Blu-rays. But then:
What ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Potter’ have in common is a huge devoted fan base. Where they differ, I think there is a — and this is my perception, I may be completely wrong — I think there is a slightly more balanced split between the sexes in the fan base of ‘Potter.’ I associate ‘Star Wars’ as being a predominantly male thing. And I think ‘Potter’ is split more evenly.
Sigh.
Book reviews: Speak Wookiee, Darth Paper and standalone The Jedi Path
Every year, the publishers try to come out with fun books that the long-suffering relative of a Star Wars fan can grab as a nifty gift. Since the holiday shopping season starts earlier and earlier each year, it’s no surprise that you can start getting a few of them right now.
How to Speak Wookiee is a really cute board book with sound board. You get a Wookiee-shaped sound board with ten phrases that you can use to get on everyone’s nerves by playing them over and over. The illustrations by JAke are adorably cute with lots of funny details. And the write-ups by Wu Kee Smith made me laugh out loud. Knowing bookstores, they’re probably lurking in the childrens’ section, but it’s worth the hunt.
Darth Paper Strikes Back is the follow-up to the surprise hit The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. The adventures of our intrepid middle school students (from Ralph McQuarrie Middle School) continue with a case study of Dwight’s suspension from school, as told by various witnesses. Adults should not blow off this book because it’s set in middle school. It’s very cleverly written. Always funny. And it will have you hurtling back to your own middle school days in no time. (Okay. Maybe that’s not really selling this.)
The Jedi Path has been released in book form without the nifty bells and whistles of the “vault” presentation box and its various trinkets. But you really don’t need the extras. This book is really well done, with a nice combination of serious background information and hilarious written notes from its various owners over the years. If you missed the high-end one, don’t miss this one!
It’s just the beginning of the onslaught. And while you’re there, don’t forget your Star Wars calendars!
Video: First teaser for The Hunger Games
And the rest: Red Tails trailer tease, inside Pottermore, Kate Beaton and Twilight
Red Tails. MTV has a new trailer teaser for George Lucas and Anthony Hemingway’s upcoming World War II epic, as well as the first poster.
Harry Potter. Our pal Bryan Young got into Pottermore, and walks us through J.K. Rowling’s multimedia experience.
Comics! The Hairpin interviews Kate Beaton of Hark! A Vagrant, whose historic cartoons entertain history/literature nerds and plebeians alike.
Twilight. Bella’s wedding dress hasn’t even been revealed to the public yet, but the license to manufacture the Carolina Herrera-designed dress has been rewarded to Alfred Angelo, who will release it under the brand ‘Twilight Bridal by Alfred Angelo.’ (Does that mean there’ll be more?!?) The replica dress will be made in sizes 0 to 30W, sure to delight Twilight fans of all sizes.
Out this week: New Knight Errant storyline begins
John Jackson Miller’s Knight Errant: Deluge #1, which follows up January’s Knight Errant novel, will be in the comic shops on Wednesday.
And don’t forget to check out Aaron Allston’s new short story/ebook, An Occurrence at Bifrost Bridge.