You can never really tell when you’re getting hooked into someone/something. It just kind of happened. From the smallest stuff to the biggest names in the whole Earth, everything seemed so addicting. And this “awesome” guy named David Archuleta is never an exemption -- the guy who took not only America but the whole world by storm. Archu-storm, they say, whatever it was. ArchAngels, Archies (Archienoy if you’re a Filipino) and a lot of variations, that’s how his fans are coined. I am so glad to say that, though indirect as it may be because I am not even a member of any of his fan site/group (before, I'm a proud part of the Archuleta Philippines family now so there's that), I am one of them, lol. 

So why did I come up with this? I don’t know, really. I just thought that what I am about to tell is worth sharing and that somehow you might get to relate to it, just because somewhere, sometime, in our boring lives, we became fangirls. Just a quick reminder, though, what’s written below doesn’t necessary mean that it refers to me or that I do those stuff, lol, rather that’s what I have seen, observed and well.. Lezgo!

David at the Idol Finale red carpet. (credits to original owner)

Every admiration has its PRO's and CON's, no matter how we view it. And so here’s my take on being an Archie. 

• You put Archu- prefix to most of the word that you know. E.g. Archu-storm, Archu-smile, Archu-family, Archu-everything and the list goes on.. 
• You always go to Youtube to search for his latest vlogs, on-tour videos, shows, etc. 
• You collect his pictures! 
• Your bedroom wall is filled with Archu-stuff! (Seeeee!)
• You have every magazine that features him, no matter how long or short the article is or how big or small the inset picture is. 
• You smiiiiiiile a lot! Just because David loves smiling. lol 
• You want to eat Pad Thai, though it the first time you have ever heard of it. (Pad Thai is a noodle meal from Thailand)
• Totoro? You loooove Totoro! Hahaha! Though you can’t figure out still what kind of creature it actually was. (A Studio Ghibli/Hayao Miyazaki creation. Watch the film! It is nice.)
• You know the lyrics of his songs by heart. 
• You can recall every Idol moment that he had. (Remember that time Simon Cowell called him a chihuahua or when he sat on the floor when asked to choose between his co-contestants? Or the ever enchanting rendition of John Lennon's Imagine?)
• You’re admitting that you have ODD, OAD. (Note: Obsessive David/Archuleta Disorder)
• You easily hear when people mention his name, sing his songs even if you are literally faaaaar from the speaker/from them. (LOL. I’M so guilty of this)
• You can answer every question related to him, his family background to favorite color to foods that he love, EVERYTHING , make that all-caps.

For greater good:

You know that you’re on the good side when:

• You’ve met new friends from every nation, Archu-friends, online, in person, and they’re here to stay. You are kind of sure that they are the realones, the kind of friends that are worth keeping though you’ve seen them only once, er, you’ve known them because of the web. They won’t let you down, and you are like that to them. But you can’t quite agree to the fact that you have to share David with each other, lol. 

• You refrain from swearing. Not that you are too fond of speaking swear words before, but knowing David, he seemed to be a nice guy, well, he really is, and so he has influenced you to be the nicest that you can be. 

• You face the world with one big smiiiiiiiiiile. You realized that life isn’t that bad at all and that he’s like a ray of sunshine shining down on you, and you might influence others to smile too. Then happiness is just at hand. Being optimistic won’t hurt. Thanks, D!

Oops! This is bad.

• When all you ever think about is him, lol, that can’t focus on the real world. 

• When you flood/spam him with your tweets. Bah! He still needs privacy, though he is a public person. We have to be reminded by the fact that it’s a one-way relationship. We can’t expect them to reply with our rantings, as always. They’re here to share their good music and let us to appreciate it. What’s good with David is that he shows appreciation for the support that he’s getting. He never forget to thank the fans. How sweet is that. And so, don’t lose hope. Tweet once in a while. Butttt.. Try not to spam.

Credits: Archuleta Fans Germany

There. I don’t even know if this makes sense but, in any way or two, people influence you in ways you can never imagine. And that there are so many ways of showing your support to persons that you value the most. Sometimes, it’s weird, but yeah, they’re making you happy and that’s what matters, really. 

Sheesh, I can’t think straight now. LOL. I still have a lot to review and remember for our exams. Haha! But I’m positive, everything will fall into place. Bye!

Sweeet.

So I came home yesterday and saw this newspaper lying on my table waiting to be read. It has a huge picture of PGMA of the front page, apparently regarding the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that will take place on Monday. Err.. but that's what not what I want to talk about on this post, lol. Not that I don't like her or that I don't care about the country but.... Sheesh, don't let me explain. Haha Fine. I am not fond of politics. :D

Moving on, what interests me are these Potter film reviews that I found! Good read, really.
One from a teen writer and the other I guess is from a pro, or sort.

The first one says: "While I realize that it's impossible to squish every little detail of HP6 into a two-hour movie, I do know the story well enough to discern which parts matter, and which parts can understandably be omitted for filming purposes. That being said, the movie in itself isn't a complete waste of time." Of course, it isn't a waste of time. And just like before, we can't expect, well it is really impossible for the movies to stick with the whole book.There are these disappointment but fortunately, somehow some part of it gives us satisfaction. Both the reviewers showed disappointment with the lack of focus on Snape-is-the-Half-Blood-Prince thing. But said that Alan Rickman gave a very splendid performance.

As for the individual performances, the younger reviewer mentioned how Daniel Radcliffe's acting "doesn't evolve beyond the emotional range of a teaspoon", and Bonnie Wright gave a "sup-par depiction" of Ginny Weasley and that the HP veterans really did well, Gambon, Rickman, etc.

"Rupert Grint did a stellar job of capturing Ron Weasley's sardonic sense of humor and bumbling lack of subtlety, with Jessie Cave milking Lavender Brown's over-enthusiastic advances for all it was worth." How I love reading praises for Rupert, lol. But indeed, they really did a great job on it.

There's also a deeper explanation given by the other reviewer as he elaborated on the movie's "pluses and minuses." He even said, "Yates succeeds for the most part in condensing the first several chapters of the book in a few minutes of screen time. In some instances, he even improves on Rowling, avoiding the more implausible devices she resorts to, to create or resolve plot difficulties."

"He arranges elements in a scene with the eye of a still-life painter, juxtaposing images to good effect. In an early scene, for example, Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron have a laugh. The laughter echoes as the camera slowly closes up on a picture of an unsmiling Draco printed on a page of the Daily Prophet, its edges on fire." This is actually one of those few Trio moments on HBP that I loved. Awesome.

What I kind of didn't agree on was when he said that the Non-Potter readers who has watched the movie was left befuddled and disoriented when I think that it is a Muggle-friendly movie. For my friends anyway.

"There is on departure from the book, however, that is especially felicitous. And it is a scene that Yates invented. Harry spends the holiday with the Weasleys, but he gets an unexpected visit from the Death Eaters... ...the scene affords viewers a brief but exciting wizard battle and economically obviates the one that Rowling puts in the end of the book, which had it been filmed would have been predictable and even clunky. But the scene does more than that. When, in the last 20 minutes of the movie, Dumbledore creates a protective ring of fire around Harry and himself as they cross a lake infested with Gollum-like creatures, the scene with the Weasleys is recalled as an ironic counterpoint." I think Yates has already explained the need for the addition of the Burrow's Attack scene in the movie on a recent interview that has surfaced online and can be read here so I won't elaborate much on that.

In the end, it's just their opinion, what matters most is what we think about it, ourselves. Did we like it? Was it the best or in the reviewer's term, a little half-brewed? (Me, again, I LOVED IT.)

This last one, we might all agree on.
"You can hate it or love it, criticize or praise it - either way, it's a movie that shouldn't be missed. On principle, I mean. You know, just because it's Harry Potter."

Upon reading this please be reminded of a few things, (1) I'm not so good in doing reviews that's why I hesitated on making one at first; (2) I don't know anything about cinematography, it's just pure observations; Lastly (3) I'm a true blue Rupert Grint fangirl, lol, so if you find this reaction post sort of so Rupert-driven then... Oh at least I have warned you. haha

I left our house with a mindset that no matter what, I'll enjoy the movie though I am warned that some part would be disappointing, some would just make me feel bored, etc. One thing's for sure -- I'm freaking excited to see it and it's been like that for months. (I am not the only one though, yeah? I think everyone was.) Although I have already mentioned before that HBP is my fave book in the series, I did not expect anything. Maybe that's the secret of enjoying books turned into movies, focus on what's at hand and don't compare. K, it's hard not to compare, you just can't help but compare and expect eh. As a reader, you unconsciously wanted the book to be adapted from page to page, but it isn't possible, for heaven's sake. That's the problem of others I guess, that's why they get slightly disappointed. But me, the issue whether the movie will stay true to the book, or if which is better is also shut off of my head.

So did I enjoy it? Hell yes. It is so far the best Harry Potter movie that I have seen! It is entertaining to a point that you don't want to be disturbed while watching it. You'll pay much attention to hear their lines and see how they'd react on a certain scene. I'm satisfied, because I saw those scenes that I am so looking forward to see. Although they did cut the exciting ones (the Battle of Hogwarts, Dumbledore's funeral, etc), and although it lacks explanation for the HalfBlood Prince and introduction to the Horcruxes, it never failed to amaze me.

Oh gosh, Rupert, he IS amazing! He is such a natural comedian. The timing, also Dan Radcliffe's, is impeccably good! As if he's not Rup and he's really Ron. Haha. K, I warned you, eh? *fangirls* All of them has really improved, acting-wise. I really felt so much for Draco (Tom Felton) in the bathroom scene. And Hermione (Emma Watson) hurting is just so heartbreaking. Lavender? I once said that I might kill her, right? lol But dang! Jessie Cave nailed her performance! I was laughing really heartily inside the cinema. She's awesome. Cormac (Freddie Stroma) indeed deserved to be this week's Hollywood crush, he IS such a hottie I am looking forward of seeing more of him. Rupert is still hotter in my eyes though! Haha The eyelashes, the Ron Weasley trademark grin, the transition of facial expressions, the... K, nuff, April, nuff fangirling. :) The veterans, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham-Carter, Hagrid, Molly, Arthur, Tonks, Lupin and the others - AMAZING. Awesome casting. Dan- he's improved a lot and so is Bonnie, I'm glad that she has great long lines now. Ha ha! They're sweet though I must say the relationship between them lacks build up. Ron & Hermione for the win! My ship. Haha so I wont elaborate more or I might iritate whoever might read this for squeeing too much. :D

Genius. I personally love the fiery Inferi cave scene w/Harry & Dumbledore. The camera effects/transition is so commendable. Remember the scene where at a tower Lavender's one step up the stairs kissing Ron then the camera swoozed then we're seeing Draco on the Astronomy Tower? What I want to say is that the transition is so jampacked, we see so much events even just with the transition making us pay attention more. The musical scoring, great! I love the effects of silence (when Dumbledore died.) I don't know much about cinematography and filming but i would give the editing 9 out of 10 stars. 9 because I find some flaws, and I ain't telling it. Lol.

* Every scene that has Rupert in it. Lol.

* The Love Potion/ Poison scene. Ron, goodness! A person behind us said, 'Parang bakla amp*ta.' Is that a compliment? Haha. Wickedly amazing.

* Lavender with the R + L thing. Funneh! Lavender for the winnn!

* The Hospital Wing scene. 'I happen to be his... friend.' and the 'Er-My-Nee' croaking. Aww. Please excuse my shipper heart as I squee!

* The Quidditch TryOut/Game. That's when I proved that Rupert's acting is so convincing. He's got a line where he just said 'Yesss!' in triumph and everyone in the cinema is frigging laughing, including me of course!

* Harry upon drinking Felix Felicis. Oh, heck, Dan! I almost fell on my seat, literally with that 'Sir?' punchline.

* Slughorn's class. The only class they attended in the movie. I just love their first meeting & how Ron and Harry raced to get a Potion's book.

* The JokeShop. My my. I love the twins! It's good to see them there & the place is just awesome.

* Snape/Cormac interrogation. Lovely.

* Harry/Draco's bathroom duel.

* The cave scene. Oh tartar sauce! Michael Gambon get the hell of me into tears. The fiery Inferi scene is my favorite.

There, I know there's lacking in the movie, but why focus on it? All I can say is that it's entertaining; it's genius that it's highly recommendable; it's bound to make history; Rupert's amazing lol, and I. LOVED. THE. MOVIE.