Harry Potter...flawed film entertains! Door open for sequels!

There was very little humor, a lot of dark high drama, and a dollop of gratuitous flesh.

But. when the curtain finally rang down at the 11th hour - "Deathly Hallows" - the latest (last?) installment of the successful Harry Potter franchise ended with a whimper.

Not surprisingly, there were a slew of spectacular special effects (the star of the big-budget flick?) that kept ticket-holders on the edges of their seat, throughout the overly-long feature.

On occasion, for the first 1/3 of the slick endeavour, the J.K. Rowling magical tale dragged a tad, though.

A bit of judicious editing would have succeeded in - yawn - moving the high-stakes drama along at a faster (much-appreciated) clip.

Uh-huh!

Judging by what ended up on the silver screen - it was evident to moi - that Ms. Rowling's creative well has run dry.

Subsequently, it was easy to fathom why the once-talented writer lamented far-and-wide that "Deathly Hallows" would be the last wizard project to grace theatre screens ever again.

In spite of the fact the thought of a Harry Potter screening still triggers a frenzied rush (even at the midnight hour) for coveted tickets in - what had become - a regular pop culture event each outing.

The truth?

Although the ending is "flat", the producers have clearly left the door wide open for a younger generation of wizards to take the helm, I dare say.

The producers have given Harry Potter a proper send-off, though, by focusing mainly on all the loose ends in his intriguing mystical life.

In order to do so, for the most part, the roles of the supporting players were cut back.

Occasionally - Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, and Alan Rickman - steal a bit of Daniel Radcliffe's thunder, though.

In the uneven splashy release, my main criticism falls on the scene that focuses on a "near death" experience of one of the characters.

Although Rowling and the producers had a smattering of state-of-the-art tools capable of real "magical wizardry" at their disposal, the scene failed to strike a glorious chord or even rustle up any wow factor where it was essential most!

It was all downhill after that!

Judging by the ticket sales reported in the media overnight, I expect that audiences will continue to flock to the theatre, and push the numbers into the stratosphere.

I wonder how the audiences are responding about the calibre of the Deathly Hallows once polled outside the theatre doors?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Anderson Cooper...Broadway debut! Daniel Radcliffe takes bow in classic!

Studly Coop debuts on Broadway!
 

 

That Silver Fox - Anderson Cooper - is launching a stage-acting debut on Broadway in a revival of the classic Broadway hit:

"How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Well, not exactly in the flesh.

Though, fans of the pint-size News Anchor, get all hot and bothered at the thought!

Mr. Cooper recorded the Book "Voice" for an advice-giving narrator (a character who is actually never seen on stage) which starts previews at the Big Apple's Al Hirschfield Theatre in the next few weeks.

Coop was quick to underscore that his "night job" on CNN keeps him out of the loop for the most part - when it comes to acting - that is (dudes at the gym may offer up a bone of contention on that issue and will tattle otherwise if the rumor-mills are true).

So, this nifty assignment dove-tailed nicely with his work load.

I expect - that a handful of fans (hot-to-trot) were disappointed when they caught sight of Cooper in an interview with Piers Morgan recently - though.

In that one-on-one sizzler (yawn!) the camera-man made the mistake of taking a two-shot from the side which ended up dwarfing Gloria Vanderbilt's son (yeah, he was born into big bucks) next to TV's new super-star interviewer of the month.

The musical stars another notable by the name of Daniel Radcliffe.

Uh-huh!

I expect that the Harry Potter star will sell out the box-office, eh?

More later!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Harry Potter...suggestive nude scenes! Young hero coming of age...

A number of die-hard (or just plain hard) Daniel Radcliffe fans are pining for the upcoming installment of the Potter saga - especially since the producers announced this past week - that young Harry may be featured partially-nude in sexually-suggestive scenes with his nubile young co-star.

OMG!

When long-time childhood buddies hook up, doesn't that smack of incest a tad?

Bottom line, the suits are counting on young virile flesh to spark up the storyline and boost sales at the box office a smidgen next time out at a theatre near you.

Also, on another front,  R.K. Rowlings has hinted that Dumbledore may be outed

So, expect a scintillating flashback or two from the old wizard, when he fondly recalls romantic days with a passionate male lover or two.

In a nutshell, the Potter "kids" are coming of age.

In fact, the studio boldly underscored that point when the sequel - Half-Blood Prince - was released.

In addition to a trek down teen-lover's lane, where a whole lot of chug-a-lugging and necking went down, there were a few subliminal messages that raised an eyebrow or two.

For example, when the boys were competing in an afternoon game on campus in a rough-and-tumble surge for supremacy on their airborn broomsticks - from a particular angle - a camera shot gave the impression that Harry's chief rival was sporting a roaring hard-on.

An adrenalin rush, of sorts, I guess!

Of course, before half-blood hit the silver screen, dialogue in previous films occasionally teased about the boys and their wands (naughty comments which usually whizzed over the naive heads of the kiddies with nary a thought).

But the sexual innuendos did not escape their parents in tow who sat up and took notice alright!

And, what about that one scene, where Harry had a nightmare about a nasty slithering snake?

I wonder what Freud would think of that!

Obviously, the studio is inclined to spice up the storyline, now that they're competing with racier bill-of-fare on cable and web TV.

Although Radcliffe pretty-much bared all in the stage prodeuction of Equus, frenzied fans can't seem to get enough of his toned physique, tight butt, and pretty face.

Ah, the sweet bird of youth!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Harry Potter...pines to play role of Transvestite!

A bit Milton Berle, Daniel!

I was thumbing through one of the local gay rags , when I spied a headline about English Actor Daniel Radcliffe, who inhabits the role of "Harry Potter" in the screen adaptations of the best-selling books by celebrated fiction-writer J.K. Rowlings.

"Daniel Radcliffe wants to play a transvestite."

No, a transvestite is not a Vampire from Transylvania, by any stretch of the imagination.

If you're confused, well, you outta be.

Transvestites have, after all, been transformed (another "trans" word breaking out into the mainstream of late) somewhat over the past couple of decades or so since my own debauched youth when I crossed paths with a lady of the night or two of that exotic persuasion.

For example, in the stone-age of the gay community (men who were drawn to same-sex partners were referred to as "homos" way back then) males who indulged their sensual fantasies in naughty silky underthings (and kinky toys to heighten the scintillating walk on the wild side) were known as transvestites.

Trannies, for short!

But, it should be noted for the record that closetted dudes (light in the loafers as they used to say in the heyday of Tinseltown) just got their jollies off - for the most part - wafting around in drag, camping it up on stage in tacky back-alley fag hang-outs, and what-have-you.

Not my cup of tea!

In fact, only a handful of cross-dressers I've been "this-close-to" ever put forth the Freudian notion that they were tortured women trapped in buffed male bods aching to be set "free".

Christine Jorgensen - a former military man in the U.S. ranks (with brass ba**s, I surmise in retrospect) - was one of the first to go where no man had gone before.

Some say, William Shatner was pulling up the rear, though.

Just kidding trekkie fans!

But, it is a truism.

Once the old "johnson" gets snipped, there's no Monday-morning quarterbacking later, that's for sure!

During the late sixties and early seventies, I befriended a couple of talented "show girls" who opened the door of awareness and understanding for me.

Sandy St. Peters, for instance - lauded for her flawless impressions of iconic female film personas on stage - was one of the well-adjusted few who made the transition from "King of the Jungle" to "Diva!" successfully.

Tragic Edith Piaf belted it out best.

"No regrets".

In her later years, Sandy was virtually elevated to status of "Saint", and was a blessing to the GLBTG community until she passed to spirit.


Craig Russell, on the other hand, was a multi-talented "Scarborough" boy (like moi), who sky-rocketed to fame briefly here and abroad.

Unfortunately, Russell was unable to conquer his childhood demons.

Sadly, the quirky stage performer met a tragic demise before his full potential was fully realized.

Then, of course, there's Dame Edna from down under!

A dazzling blue-haired charmer and the toast of any town she saunters into.

Eureka!

I say, that's it.

How 'bout Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Dame Edna traipsing the boards in a revival of a celebrated stage play?

Charlie's Aunt!

I can hear the beautiful sound of the cash registers now.

Ka-ching! Ka-ching!

Hung like a horse, Daniel?
Then, tuck it under for the stage show, Dude!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Harry Potter...fan will publish Lexicon for popular movie franchise!

In retrospect, it appears that a claim by J.K. Rowlings that she won a court battle last year over Harry Potter copyright issues, may have been a trumped-up spin on the actual court ruling to save face for the author.

A case in point.

Last year, J.K. Rowlings filed a lawsuit against a young writer in a bold-faced effort to block his efforts to publish a useful tool to enlighten fans about terminology used in the Harry Potter fiction materials.

In the contentious court battle that followed, a myriad of intriguing aspects of law came to light.

For example, lawyers for Ms. Rowlings argued strenuously that the "Lexicon" crafted by Steven Vander Ark violated copyright laws and that - in sum - Vander Ark was seeking to obtain ill-gotten financial gains by virtue of the fruits of Ms. Rowlings creative labor.

In response, Vander Ark - a mild-mannered librarian - broke down on the witness stand under the stress of the allegations.

According to his testimony, he was not seeking to "steal" any material from Ms. Rowling - or claim any of the original fiction materials - as his own.

In sum, he stressed for the record that he merely drummed up the idea in a good-faith effort to publish a sort-of encylopedia of words and phrases, so that fans of the popular best-selling series could better understand the fiction materials onscreen and off.

During that trial, I penned a post on the maneuverings that went down in court.

Post:

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/04/jk-rowlingsbig-meanie-with-big-bucks.html

Shortly after that first round of legal tit-for-tat, it was announced that Rowlings had prevailed in the action.

Curiously, in a sort-of footnote, it was noted that an "agreement" had been reached between the two parties.

Huh?

Just this past week, the obvious conflict resolved itself in my eyes, when Steven Vander Ark announced that RDR Books will publish his unauthorized guide to the Harry Potter fiction series and other related materials.

At that press conference, Vander Ark and the publishers noted that the revised manuscript met with the guidelines of the court set forth in the prior litigation.

Ha!

Obviously, in order to "settle" the suit, both parties agreed to specific terms.

J.K. Rowlings would claim victory in respect to the basic copyright issue, while Mr. Vander Ark would be free to publish his own "Lexicon" on Harry Potter materials provided the manuscript fell within the guidelines set by the Judge.

Personally, I am looking forward to Vander Ark's encyclopedia so I'll be able to fathom a lot of that troublesome - but intriguing - gobbley-gook spounting from the mouths of the Potter characters ad nauseam!

Juicy gossip on Daniel Radcliffe: http://www.julianayrs.com/

Harry Potter...naked Equus stint inspires dong parties!

Check out surprise nude shot at: http://www.julianayrs.com

News out of the "Big Apple" is that Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) is piquing a lot of curiosity over his risque acting role in Equus where he appears nightly on stage - as the snotty English blokes would snarl - starkers.

The last stint in Equus - and the raft of nude stills that splashed onto the Internet worldwide in its wake - inspired die-hard fans to toss "Dong" parties for their pretty poster boy on campuses around the country.

I trust the trend will continue.

Don't forget your "rubbers" and "play safe".