Warning: Links in Twitter to download Potter movie are dangerous
[Posted by Dave Haber on Tuesday, 08/11/09 7:28 pm] [Permalink]According to an article on TechCrunch.com, Harry Potter fans on Twitter have been tempted to click on links from celebrities that promise free Harry Potter movie downloads, and feel the links are safe because anything endorsed by a celebrity is going to be OK. However, the celebrity's name has essentially been hijacked by putting it in as a RT (retweet).
Unscrupulous companies are posting fake retweets from celebrities like Oprah and Justin Timberlake just to get their name and link out, in the hopes that others will click on them and will retweet these links to their followers.
Once you click the link to the supposed movie, it turns out to be yet another phishing scam full of surveys. There isn't a movie to watch, and even worse, you possibly could pick up a dangerous computer virus.
As always, don't click on a link unless you're sure about who's telling you to click there, and don't fall for anyone who tells you there will be a free Harry Potter movie. It's all a scam.
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Sean Biggerstaff in Miss Marple now online
[Posted by Dave Haber on Saturday, 08/01/09 5:31 pm] [Permalink] It's been seven years since we last saw him as Oliver Wood in a Harry Potter film, briefly in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but he's still a favorite of Harry Potter fans. Now, you can see Sean Biggerstaff in a PBS Masterpiece Theater production of Miss Marple. His episode, Why Didn't They Ask Evans? is now online here.
| | Sean Biggerstaff in Miss Marple (thanks to WGBH) |
In this show, Sean plays Bobby Attfield who finds a man near death sprawled out on a cliff. His final, enigmatic words, "Why didn't they ask Evans?" On a whim, Bobby and his friend, socialite Frankie Derwent, decide to investigate. The amateur sleuths, along with Miss Marple, uncover several enticing clues.
The show also features Mark Williams, who plays Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter films.
You can read more about Sean's Miss Marple episode here.
(Link to the video online thanks to Magical Menagerie.)
Warwick Davis joins the ranks of Harry Potter star tweeters
[Posted by Dave Haber on Friday, 07/31/09 7:57 pm] [Permalink] Overheard today on Twitter from Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in all the Harry Potter movies:
Exciting news tweeps! Warwick Davis (professor flitwick) is on Twitter! Follow @Warwickadavis one of the nicest, funniest men I know! X
RT I love him as Professor Flitwick but he will always be Willow to me! @warwickdavis. Does that date me? I'm with you girl!
Willow is one of the best films I've seen! There's no two ways about it @warwickadavis is a legend! Aswell as a gentleman x
@WarwickADavis how's the tweeting going? Figuring it out? X
Also tweeting are James and Oliver Phelps, and Matt Lewis. You can also follow Wizard News on Twitter too!
Bill Nighy starts filming on Harry Potter 7 next week
[Posted by Dave Haber on Monday, 07/27/09 4:50 pm] [Permalink] Interviewed on BBC Newsbeat, Pirates of the Caribbean star Bill Nighy, who's also currently appearing in G-Force, let it slip that he starts shooting on Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows next week.
Bill said, "I start filming next week and I've been in for costume fittings and things. I can't tell you too much about it because they do literally, I think they kill me or take my house or something if I tell you anything too much. And for good reasons, so that it all comes as a bit of a surprise."
Bill has also kidded about finally being cast in a Harry Potter movie. He said, "I was beginning to worry. I was beginning to feel a tiny bit excluded. I think they ran out of English actors. I was the only English actor of a certain age who wasn't in Harry Potter and now I'm in Harry Potter so I'm very happy. I grew up with nearly everybody in the movies, I know all of the people in there, obviously because they're part of the English acting community and it's nice to be a part of it."
It is believed that Nighy will be playing the part of Rufus Scrimgeour in the final Harry Potter films.
(Info thanks to BBC Newsbeat.)
The Hobbit movie in trouble again
[Posted by Dave Haber on Tuesday, 07/21/09 5:07 pm] [Permalink] A very dark cloud now looms over production of The Hobbit. Apparently, the Tolkien estate is saying that New Line Cinema never paid them what they were due following the sale of the rights to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy in 1969.
| | Cover of original Hobbit book |
The case is due in court in L.A. this October and if it goes all the way to trial, New Line could lose the rights to "The Hobbit", which would effectively shut down all work on the project. According to Christopher Tolkien, the author's son, and his lawyer, Bonnie Eskanazi, the family is suing for close to $220 million and complete rights to future films based on Tolkien's work, including rights to terminate any project that breached the contract.
Although Tolkien did sell the rights for a meager upfront fee, he was promised 7.5 percent of any future profits. Between theatrical and DVD sales, the trilogy made upwards of $6 billion. New Line's defense is that the original contract was ambiguous.
(Information from The Guardian and /Film.com.)
Air conditioning breaks down at Potter midnight show, nobody leaves
[Posted by Dave Haber on Wednesday, 07/15/09 3:17 am] [Permalink] At a midnight screening Tuesday night in Woodland Hills, CA, of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the air conditioning broke down and was not functioning at all during the entire course of the movie. Under these circumstances, you would normally expect a noisy crowd reaction demanding the air conditioning be turned on, and many patrons leaving during the film, demanding their money back.
But tonight, during the premiere screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the fans stayed quiet, and nobody left early, even though the heat in the packed auditorium was getting uncomfortable by time the movie was half through.
About three quarters of the way through the movie, ushers distributed trays of cups of ice, which seemed to lessen the effects of the heat a bit. After the movie, ushers did give free movie passes to all the patrons as they were leaving.
The film was great! It's 3:00 in the morning and I'm still taking it all in. It was funny and sad and exciting and dramatic. We meet some new, delightful characters, and there are a few small plot surprises.
There were lots of wizards in the audience, dressed in Hogwarts house colors, and carrying wands. You'd think one of them could have fixed the air conditioning. But I guess wizards aren't good with Muggle machines...
Dan Radcliffe picks his favorite movie
[Posted by Dave Haber on Sunday, 07/12/09 2:53 pm] [Permalink] In a recent interview, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe told Reelz Channel that his favorite movie is the 1957 version of 12 Angry Men.
This Hollywood classic starred Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Mrshall and Jack Klugman. In the course of the film, a dissenting juror in a trial slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.
Given Daniel's choice to appear on stage, this choice is not surprising to us, as he says in the interview that he likes the film because it proves that, unlike the big Harry Potter movies, you don't need spectacular special effects or huge complex sets to make a very intense movie. This movie is all about the actors, very much as is, which is basically a two man show.
You can see video of Daniel talking about his favorite movie here.
(Info thanks to Reelz Channel.)
Author clarifies confusion about J.K. Rowling and kid's book
[Posted by Dave Haber on Friday, 07/10/09 9:03 pm] [Permalink] Jessica Adams, who, together with Laura Harris, Anna Fienberg and Tamara Sheward, created Kids' Night In 3, an anthology of short stories, poems, recipes, illustrations and more in aid of the international children's charity War Child, is concerned people may have gotten the wrong impression from recent news coverage of J.K. Rowling being involved in the project.
Jessica told Wizard News, "It's great that people are so excited that J.K. Rowling is on board as a contributor to this new book in the series. I'd like to correct the false impression that Ms. Rowling has written a new original short story for us, though. Along with other VIP guests, she has chosen her favourite poem to share with us, which we're thrilled to reproduce in the collection."
Kids' Night In 3 will be published by Puffin in Australia in September, and all royalties go to War Child. The favourite poem J.K.Rowling has chosen previously appeared in a UK anthology called Poems for Refugees, also in aid of War Child. For more about the charity, please visit www.warchild.org.uk.
Click here for more info about Kid's Night In 3.
It aint over 'till Gryffindor's Fat Lady sings
[Posted by Dave Haber on Wednesday, 07/01/09 8:08 pm] [Permalink] Reelz Channel says nothing says summer like blockbuster movies and baseball. So, they've taken the natural next step by combining them into one. Looking at the biggest names of the 2009 Summer Movies, they put together a roster of the top Boys of Summer, and created a baseball card for each of the players.
Among the biggest Hollywood stars, Reelz Channel has picked Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe for a spot on their exclusive All Star team. Here's his baseball card.
| | Click to see front and back of card |
Click here to see the full Hollywood Boys of Summer team roster. Reelz Channel says there were a limited number of slots on their Dream Team, so if your favorite didn't make the roster he may still be playing AAA (minor league) or have been put on the DL (Disabled List) for the season.
(Images thanks to Reelz Channel.)
Hear Half-Blood Prince Soundtrack on AOL Radio
[Posted by Dave Haber on Monday, 06/29/09 6:32 pm] [Permalink] Can't wait for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in July?� Well, to quench that thirst, AOL Radio has a remedy.
AOL Radio's Movie Score station is now presenting an exclusive premiere of the soundtrack to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by composer Nicholas Hooper.� At the top of the hour every hour, the station plays a song from the soundtrack.
Check out the station here and you can let AOL Radio know what you think about the songs by commenting in their blog.
AOL Radio is one of the internet's most visited online radio destinations. The Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Soundtrack CD will be released on July 14, 2009, and is now available for pre-order .
So, while you're spending your summer waiting�Half Blood Prince to finally make it into theaters, listen in to AOL Radio.
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