I think I've pimped this everywhere possible, but signups for the ficathon are now open. :D It's all explained properly at the forum (in an appropriately headed topic called "The Reviews Lounge Birthday Ficathon"), and we'd love it if you'd pop by and check it out.

So, I was sitting here, wondering what I could talk about for my first official post as the ‘random’ blogger…. And then I thought, what better way to start off than with something real about the RL?

The Reviews Lounge – or, as its come to be known (affectionately), the RL – started as a solution to a problem. There were lots of stories, and not many reviews; how do we fix this? We get people talking about it. We spread the word that something should be done, and by that something, we mean that everyone should make a small effort. If enough people make a little effort, a lot more people will receive the message, and so on it perpetuates. Paying it forward, if you will.

And we all know why lack of reviews is a problem; feedback helps writers grow and improve and evolve their ideas. It’s also the best sort of encouragement I think I’ve ever received. A review says, ‘I took the time to read your story (encouraging) and it was worth me lingering a little longer to tell you what I think, because this story has connected with me in some form or another.’ That’s good. Don’t you feel a little thrill every time someone makes the effort to tell you this?  I know I do.

But here’s the funny thing about the RL: it’s become so much bigger than a forum just about reviewing, or a forum just about Harry Potter. It’s turned into a bit of a sanctuary for me on the internet, because I know that no matter what else is going down, I can stop by there and find something that will make me smile, something interesting to talk about, and (if I’m lucky) some friends also idling away their hours there. The thing about the Reviews Lounge is that few people seem to venture in unless they’re of a like mind, which automatically means we’re assured of (what we consider to be) good company. It’s that whole ‘great minds’ thing: we’re automatically flattered when someone else agrees with our ideas, and we form the resolve to like them and their ideas, too.

I think, at the crux of the matter, this is the reason that the RL has become so important to me, and so important that I felt the need to assure myself (and everyone else) that it will perpetuate long after I, and perhaps you too, have left the world of Fan Fiction. I think it’s important to have a place like the RL, where budding writers (as we all once were) can find a home that will foster their talents, through encouraging, supporting and challenging them to think bigger, broader, bolder. In such an environment, amongst friends, it becomes OK to take risks, to be daring, to express yourself artistically in a way that as an independent, isolated creative sort, you perhaps wouldn’t. We push each other, because we too like to be pushed, but we're safe too, because there's no one to judge and we won't judge each other. And look what’s come of the RL; I mean, really, would any of us have achieved - the successes we've had, the readership that’s grown around us, the new skills we’ve developed, the confidence to keep trying, to keep posting - without it?

I, for one, wonder very much what would have happened to my foray into Fan Fiction without it. Probably nothing; a profile content to drift in obscurity, and probably a few dregs of stories that were good, but not great, and certainly not widely read. Without the RL, I would have given myself a month, maybe two, before I ‘got over’ Fan Fiction and moved on to something else in my career as a writer. Instead, I’ve stayed, and helped a wonderful idea blossom and expand, and along the way I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of you guys, which is an honour within itself.

So - now you all know; that’s what the RL means to me. I’m going to tie it up here, before I start to get all overly-passionate and embarrassing - But I’m just one piece of a very large (infinite) puzzle, and to be honest, what I’m really curious about is – what does the RL mean to you?

Happy Holidays to all the RL's on LJ!

Well darn, I had a long and glorious post all written out--and my stupid iJournal program ate it. Actually, my Mac freaked out on me, and it got all lost in the techno-ether or something. I was almost finished with it too!

Suzanne78 is a sad panda. (insert pouty-faced emoticon here.)

Well, pressing on. First, I think it's actually much easier for me to post this on Sundays, if that's all right; it'll give me most of the weekend to edit the thing. I would've had this up much earlier, had it not been for stupid, sucky computer going all brokey! Second, I promised that my next blog update would be about the Harry Potter movies. As my "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" widget is showing 200 days, 14 hours, 11 minutes and 10 . . . 9 . . . 8 . . . oh, you get the idea, it's getting ever closer to July 17, 2009. And we have a lot to discuss!


( moar blogtasticness nao! )

Hello! This is Suzanne78, a.k.a. WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot on Fanfiction.Net. I'll be bringing to you, friends of the Review Lounge on LiveJournal, news and noteworthy tidbits of information and whatnot about the Harry Potter movies and actors and actresses. This blog will be updated every Saturday morning as well, and if there are those weeks where things are decidely quiet on the Harry Potter front . . . well, I'll just make stuff up ;-)

And with that said, I apologize outright for the delay in getting this up on Saturday, which is what I had intended. This one took me a lot longer to write than I thought it would, and I didn't even get to talk about the actual movie! Yeesh!

First of all, a little about me. I'm a thirty-year-old attorney in Boston, MA, who loves music, movies, reading and cooking. Also, I love gossip, pop culture, and the Harry Potter movies. I also love Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis and Jason Issacs, as well as Helena Bonham Carter. I say this right up front because I can be prone to:

1.) excessive gushing about my favorites, and
2.) sometimes stupidly stalkerish bits involving the above.

However, I will (try!) not engage in bashing actors and actresses of the HP series. I actually like all of them, from Robbie Coltrane to Natalie Tena, and I love finding out about new projects that they're working on. So I'll be throwing in that information in here as well, which will help during those long, dry months where there are no movie updates. Plus, since the HP series employs practically every actor in England (except for Colin Firth and Simon Pegg . . . grrr!) there should always be something to talk about.

I'm well aware that most of the things that I'll be gathering on here have probably already been discussed ad nauseum on the internet and that you, intrepid fans of all things Harry Potter. If you've got scoop, please don't hesitate to post it in the comments below.

Okay, so to start this off . . . ZOMG! Did you see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince yet? Coming out on November 21st???

Right. You didn't. That's because it was moved to July, 2009.

Warner Bros. = Epic Fail.

Well, despite this move, there has been a number of HBP materials and merchandise released over the past two months promote the "Movie-That-Will-Not-Be-Screened". Among these items are the following:

1. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Sticker Book (from Snitch Seeker)

2. Half Blood Prince Mini Calendar and HBP Desk Calendar.

3. HBP wall calendar

And numerous magazine spreads to promote the release of the highly-anticipated Harry Potter movie . . . in seven months. Feh. I'll reserve my thoughts on the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie for my next blog post. I do hope that's all right.



-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-




Well, in other news, the actors and acresses of Harry Potter have been particularly busy. For this entry, I'll be focusing on The Golden Trio. I'll spread out news of the other actors in future blogs. K'? K'!




1. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter):

Dan's official website, DanRadcliffe.com, has everything you might ever want to know about our favorite movie version of the Chosen One and you'll avoid any pesky restraining orders or court appearances!

As most of the entire HP-loving world knows, Daniel Radcliffe's been heavily involved with the London and Broadway productions of Equus: website for Equus the Play. In Equus, Radcliffe plays Alan Strang, a psychologically troubled teenager whose behavior leads him to see a psychiatrist played by Mr. Vernon Dursley himself, Richard Griffiths.

NY Times review of Broadway production of Equus

Recently, Daniel was seen on Inside the Actor Studio, talking with host James Lipton talking about Harry Potter, Equus, New York audiences, and possibly, eventually playing Napoleon:

Part 1 (YouTube)

Part 2 (YouTube)

Part 3 (YouTube)

Part 4 (Youtube)***

***From user radsonPatt. Also, please be aware of some coarse language in the comments section and discussion of mature themes, due to the subject matter of the play Dan's doing.

Dan also has a project currently in production that's not a Harry Potter movie, Journey, which is scheduled for release in 2009. Radcliffe plays Dan Eldon, a British photographer who grew up in Kenya and subsequently helped draw attention to the crisis in Somalia in the 1990's.

Hmm . . . I smell something in the air. Could it be? The sweet smell of award season greeting young Mr. Potter? Possibly. However, he may have some competition from one mister . . .




2. Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

The Grint has been a busy little bugger. As soon as Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince wrapped, Rupes went right into production of the recently completed Cherrybomb, in which he plays Malachy, a young teenager who embarks on several wild--and increasingly violent--escapades with his best friend in order to win over a girl both are chasing.

Article in MTV on Cherrybomb.

Not only will the movie mark Rupert's departure from sweet, and decidedly-nonviolent Ron Weasley, but it'll give him a chance to develop his dialect skills set; he'll be adopting an Irish accent for the role. The Little Film Company is producing the film, which is set to premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in the Generation 14+ category. The film festival runs from February 5-15, 2009.

Also up for our Rupes is Wild Target, a dark comedy/action ensemble piece. The people who run Magic Light Pictures, the production company, apparently did not think that simply casting Rupert would be enough to draw me in to see it, so they decided to go ahead and cast Bill Nighy ("Love Actually", "Pirates of the Caribbean"), Emily Blunt ("The Devil Wore Prada"), Rupert Everett ("Stardust", "My Best Friend's Wedding") and Martin Freeman ("The Office, UK version", "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") just to ensure I'd be there on opening weekend. Which, I will be.

Rupert Grint.Net has pretty much all little bits and pieces of information that you'd ever want to know about every HP fan's favorite ginger-haired sidekick.




3. Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)

If you're missing our favorite brainy Gryffindor gal, well, run right to the movie theater to watch The Tale of Despereaux, the movie based on the children's book by Kate DiCamillo. Emma's been making the rounds in fashion magazines lately, giving everyone a lesson in "How to Grow Up with Class, Child-Star Edition," as my buddy a_respite said.



Here's a couple of layouts, courtesy of Emma's official site: Emma Watson Official

Sunday Times Style

Harper's Bazaar

The Harper's shoot is one of my favorites.


The Tale of Despereaux currently enjoys a 52% overall positive rating on RottenTomatoes.com, and a slightly higher 55% of the Cream of the Crop critical reviews. However, I do think it would be a fabulous movie to go see this holiday season.



That's all for this week's blog, but I'll have a decidedly more Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price-heavy blog next week.


Happy Christmas!


W.T.F. (suzanne78)

First of all, I’d like to welcome everyone to the new and improved Reviews Lounge Community on LiveJournal. We’re going to run this place a little like a magazine, or something like that (dare I say, a ‘review’, albeit in an entirely different sense of the word). Anyone who’s added the community to their friend list has already filled out a subscription, and even if you haven’t yet, I urge you to. We’re a friendly lot, and more often than not, we have something interesting to say. For the purpose of introducing our brand new look, I’m going to leave this post open to public viewing, but if you’d like to continue on with us, it’s as simple as hitting the little ‘join this community’ option.

In the vein of introducing ourselves, I’ll kick things off. I’m Lexie, and the RL was my brainchild. The enduring success of the Reviews Lounge is not, however, something I’ll ever attempt to take credit for, because simply put, it wasn’t my doing. The fact that the Reviews Lounge continues to flourish can be attributed solely to all those excellent writers who eagerly jumped on board, and who have continued to jump on board ever since. The fact that we’re such a dynamic movement, and have proven rather adaptable to change, has always been one of our strengths. And who are these eager sorts who’ve pledged themselves to an occasionally hopeless ideal? Well, you’ll meet them soon. Most of them have joined, or will join, me here, and I’ll leave it to them to give their own little introductions. I will, however, take the liberty to briefly introduce our blogging team, as they currently stand.

We intend for this place to be a branch off of the forum, and as such, everyone contributing will in some way, shape or form be reflecting the general interests and purposes of the Reviews Lounge. In a very vague sense of the word, we've delegated tasks as thus:

• suzanne78 , known around the place as Whiskey or WTF, has put her hand up to cover all relevant (and irrelevant, and possibly irreverent) news pertaining to the Harry Potter films and the people who make them. We’ll look to her as our media liaison, distilling the best movie gossip and beaming it straight into our f-list;
• thewordfountain  (Wordy) will be responsible for the issuing of word prompts (and possibly other  challenges);
• We’ve signed our brave and fearless leader Cuba (cuban_sombrero) up for a regular, topical editorial about the Reviews Lounge and whatever she feels is relevant;
• And I, miss_lexie, will hunt around for something interesting and hopefully reflective to say each week (fingers crossed there, but I'll do my best to make it entertaining).

We also plan on including a monthly discussion on a nominated chapter of the Harry Potter series, as well as frequent updates on the RL and lots of other interesting things including, hopefully, a live feed to our forum (being tirelessly worked on by Turtle - turtle848  ). We have a whole team of people just waiting to be delegated to something, and I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone contributes!

As always, thank you to witblogi , our all purposes web-mistress, who does an excellent job maintaining the aesthetics of our community, as well as performing numerous magical feats of trouble-shooting. She’s brilliant, really. Also, we have to thank introject at unequally for the beautiful layout.

If you’ve got something you’d like to contribute, please put your hand up, and clear it with us first.  Otherwise, this is full steam ahead.
Welcome to a new era for this community!

Hi everyone. :) I'm Jaye Black on fanfiction.net, and I figured I would post one of my HP fics here. =D

Title: Aftermath
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: K
Genre: Drama/Angst
Summary: His face no longer held the laughter that I’d grown used to over the past seven years. On the contrary, he didn’t have the air of mischief about him, or the twinkle in his eyes that let you know that he was up to something; his eyes were flat for the first time.
Date Written: Roughly a week after Deathly Hallows came out. I was in mourning, heh. 

(Fake cut to the story, over at She's The Smoke)
 

Title: Odds and Evens
Author: Cuba
Rating: PG
Warnings: Mental disorders, though whether or not that's actually a disorder
Characters: Percy
Summary: Percy wants to scream and to shout, because odds are dire and this is dire and how can they sit there, so complacent and happy?
A/N: I know nothing about OCD, so if I've made a mistake, feel free to point it out. Just click the title link for the story. =D And yeah, I know this was posted months after the challenge, but I found the scrap of paper it was on today, so ...

HELLO to everyone I don't know, and everyone I do know (bonniedoll, pinkyacid and my_black_life)

I have finally found my way here! YAYNESS!

Izzy. x

 Hey people! I joined RL on LJ but haven't visited! 

Hey just wondering, is it true we're going to be doing a project after the Christmas Proj?

Ciao!Merci!

Pinky xxx XD o.O

PS. Who likes my Dr. Who avvi?