Story Stream: 1/2 - 1/8

Hello friends,

I'm still trying to work my way to a negative COVID test, but finally feeling mostly back to normal. I'm on Day 17 and testing for the fourth time later today. VERY ready to be done with this. But, on the bright side, as you might guess, I've made the very most of this time by finishing the rest of the Harry Potter film series (for the bazillionth time), and started into the next series I'll be revisiting. Here we go!
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MOVIES

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

It's hard to choose, but this may be my favorite of the Harry Potter films. I've loved it since my first viewing, and I've seen it a lot. The third film was the first one I truly loved, but this is when things really, actually shift in tone. We get some real moments of emotional intensity, conflict between friends, and our first view of Ralph Fiennes's Voldemort. A near perfect film. Streaming on HBO Max. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

I always forget how amazing this one is. It honestly may be my favorite of the Harry Potter films. I love seeing the community that builds around Harry, their love for one another, and especially Sirius Black's love for Harry. Plus, Dumbledore's Army? Come on. And the third best villain in the entire series, Dolores Umbridge? Amazing. Streaming on HBO Max. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

This is another one that sort of slips off my radar between viewings, but it actually may be my favorite of the Harry Potter films. An emotional journey. I love how powerful (and loving) we see Dumbledore to be in this one. He's such a vital hero in the whole epic (and I can't wait to see how Jude Law portrays him in the upcoming prequel / Fantastic Beasts sequel). This movie sets the stage perfectly for the end of the series. Also, Tom Felton crushes it in this film. Easily the best we ever see of Draco Malfoy. Streaming on HBO Max. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

A complete shift in tone. I love this movie. It may be my favorite of the Harry Potter films. I feel stressed throughout, but in an entertaining, edge-of-my-seat kind of way. From the opening sequence, it's clear that we're no longer watching kids movies. And it ends much the way it starts, with real heaviness and uncertainty. If you'd told me after the first couple movies that this is where the series was headed, I'd have never believed it. One of my favorite things about the Deathly Hallows book and films is all the new heroes we get to see save the day. The communal rise against the darkness. It's magnificent. Streaming on HBO Max. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

This is easily the most important, and perhaps my favorite of the Harry Potter films. It all comes together in the most beautiful, tragic, and unpredictable way. It's honestly perfect. There's not a single thing I'd change about this movie. I know there are folks who don't love some of the cinematic liberties taken by the director here, but I love the way the story is told here. It's a different medium. It doesn't need to match the book perfectly. It simply needs to convey the story's essence, and it does that flawlessly. Truly, a perfect film. Now to revisit the Fantastic Beast films... Streaming on HBO Max. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)

Prometheus (2012)

No idea why, but I had an urge to watch Alien this weekend. But, as is my way, if I'm going to watch a movie that's part of a series, I'm going to watch the whole series. So, I went back to the (chronological) beginning. The prequel I never saw coming. Folks have mixed feelings about the Alien prequels, but I think they're all tied to sentimentality about the original series. I don't share that sentimentality as I never san any of the movies until I was in my mid-twenties. So I loved everything about this one, and honestly didn't even realize it was an Alien prequel until the very end. I'm sure I should have, but I wasn't familiar enough with the originals in 2012 to recognize it as such. I love this one and wish it had received a proper sequel, but I'll get into that below. Available wherever you buy or rent digital movies. (8/10 - Highly Recommended)

Alien: Covenant (2017)

I can't articulate the degree to which my brother in law, an avid, lifelong Alien fan, loathes this movie. And he can only articulate it with a long stream of expletives. But, I don't get it. I think it's a really good movie. Although, I feel like it should be the third in a Prometheus series. Too much went unseen between Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. One more film exploring the character of Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, an almost Ripley-esque quality heroine, would have made the whole prequel story so much better. It should have been a prequel trilogy. Nonetheless, this is a solid entry in the whole Alien epic in my opinion. Far better than a few of the Alien sequels, which I'll likely watch this next week. Available wherever you buy or rent digital movies. (6/10 - Recommended)
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TV

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022)

This is what inspired the whole HP revisiting of the last week and a half. I wanted to take the journey again before diving into the nostalgia I knew would come with this special. It really delivered too. If you're even remotely a fan of Harry Potter, of these actors, or just of kindness and goodness as ideals, you're sure to enjoy this special. It is deeply nostalgic (and fun) though if you're a Harry Potter fan. And let me say for the record, with no uncertainty, I absolutely am a Harry Potter fan. Even more so today than before. Streaming on HBO Max. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)
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PODCASTS

Fun Parts - "Old Stories, New Hope" and "[OUTTAKE] Animal Instincts"

Season 3 of Fun Parts finally kicked off this week, and I'm so thankful it did. This is always a wonderful time for me, revisiting the conversations we had a couple months after having them. It's just the right amount of time to forget exactly what we said, but remember the vibe in the room. I love these people. I love this show. And I'm so proud to be connected to it. If you haven't started it yet, I highly recommend starting with Season 1 and journeying with us. I'm not afraid to admit: this is a really, really good show. Streaming on the various podcast listening apps. (10/10 - Very Highly Recommended)
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And there we have it! Next week, I'm sure you can look forward to more Alien movies, and again, probably the Fantastic Beasts films. I'm in that mode right now for sure. What about you though? What are you watching, reading, listening to, etc? Let me know in the comments below! I always love recommendations!

More soon, friends. Thanks for reading!