Farewell Dear Darwin

This morning I was walking through Darwin town on my way to the bookshop to pickup my preordered copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and actually had a moment of teariness at the thought of leaving Darwin. While I'm a city girl, Darwin (even though, it technically is a city, it's not a big city) has been some fun, and not a bad way of life. I will miss Smith St Mall, Discovery, Throb, Mindil Beach Market, the bicycle ride to work, having almost everything within walking distance, dancing at the Strip Club Stoke Hill Wharf, the Esplanade, cheap Sushi Train, the dummies in the window of the adult shop that have extra big knockers, ...I'll even miss the local Woolies! Most of all I'll probably miss the kind people that I met, and of course the beautiful weather (especially while I'm freezing my arse of in an England winter).

Anyway, Goodbye Darwin, hopefully we will meet again.

Gayle xoxox

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MOVIE REVIEW
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: 2.75/5

Cast: (Mostly the same as the previous episodes) Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Imelda Staunton...etc.

In a nutshell: Below the high standard set by the previous two instalments.

Brief Synopsis: No one will believe Harry when he says You Know Who is back, and Dumbledore is ignoring him. To top it off, the Ministery of Magic is intefering with the running of Hogwarts. Will they all be ready for You Know Who's devastating return?

I recall that this was probably my least favourite of the six previously released Harry Potter books. There was a lot of talking, and not as much magic or action as the previous movies, with the exception of a few scenes. The movie is not much different, and in addition, the uninspired direction, almost average acting and only sometimes funny script all feels a little flat. There is too much of the book to try and fit into the movie, and yet it felt like there may have been a number scenes that are too long or unecessary. As a result, you barely get to see some of your favourite old characters eg. Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, Professor Lupin, hilarous one-lines from Ron Weasely, etc. Or of that matter, even the new characters are a bit wasted, eg. Helena Bonham Carter. Despite all of this, it is still a fun movie. Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge is a standout. It is just that Order of the Phoenix has the weight of so many Harry Potter fans on its still adolescent shoulders.