Life is what happens when you are making other plans~ John Lennon
An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind~Gandhi
The time is always right to do what is right~ Martin Luther King Jr.


Showing posts with label magicians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magicians. Show all posts

Friday, October 25, 2024

Now You See Me 2 (2016)

The Four Horsemen are back. Now with a new "Horseman" in tow, the crew is taking on a heist request issued to them from a tech giant with a connection to their past

Summary

-The Four Horsemen are asked by a tech giant, thought to be dead and with an obsession with magic, to pull off their most daring heist yet- steal back a computer chip with the power to unencrypt anything and expose information on anyone








Cast

-Jesse Eisenberg: J. Daniel Atlas

-Mark Ruffalo; Dylan Rhodes

-Woody Harrelson: Merritt McKinney / Chase McKinney

-Dave Franco: Jack Wilder

-Daniel Radcliffe: Walter Mabry

-Lizzy Caplan: Lula

-Jay Chou: Li

-Sanaa Lathan: Deputy Director Natalie Austin

-Morgan Freeman: Thaddeus Bradley

-Michael Caine: Arthur Tressler

-Tsai Chin: Bu Bu

Did You Know?

-The only reason that Isla Fisher did not appear in this film is because she was pregnant at the time. There was a storyline stating that it didn't work out between Jesse Eisenberg's character and Isla Fisher's character. To replace Fisher, Lizzy Caplan was brought in and announced as the full time replacement in September 2016

-Over a year before this movie was even released, it was announced that there will be a Now You See Me 3. This new film is still in developmental limbo until everything can be worked out, including a storyline

-Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe) says that, while at school, he messed around with magic. This is a reference to his role as the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter. In all eight films, he played Harry Potter, who learned and used magic while at school

-In the scene where Lulu makes the bird fly out of a man's pants at the magic show in London, that man was Irish magician Keith Barry

-In the scene where Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) enters the jail cell of Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), music can be heard playing. The music fits the themes of revenge and vendettas, as the music is "The Revenge of Hell Boils in My Heart", from the Mozart opera The Magic Flute

-There is a specific reason why in the first film J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) had long hair and in this film he has short hair. Eisenberg had appeared in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). At the end of the movie, Lex Luthor's hair is shaved off, rendering him completely bald, when being transferred to prison

-This is the seventh film in which Morgan Freeman and Sir Michael Caine have worked together. They appeared in 2003's Freedom: A History of US, 2005's Batman Begins, 2008's The Dark Knight, 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, 2013's Now You See Me and 2017's Going in Style

-When the Horseman are discussing what to do for their final acts, they decide to meet up in Greenwich. Their acts do actually take place in that region of London. Greenwich Market is modeled to look like Covent Garden. The Cutty Sark is only a two minute walk from where Lizzy Caplan is doing her streetside act. The Old Royal Naval College is only a few minutes away from the area where the rain act is taking place. In the background of the rain act is the Royal Observatory, where the film ends

-When Lula mentions her early career, she frequently mentions pulling a rabbit out of a hat. This is a reference to Isla Fisher's character in the first film, 2013's Now You See Me

-One of the biggest plot points of this movie is The Eye, a secret society to which the Four Horsemen are proving themselves. The scenes showing the London skyline were important, as they prominently featured the large Ferris Wheel, known as the London Eye, which sits alongside the River Thames

-In the scene when the Horsemen are in Macau, and they walk into the magic shop, Atlas plays with a water trick using anti-gravity. This is foreshadowing his grand rain illusion later

-In 2013's Now You See me, the photos of Lionel Shrike were done by an uncredited Elias Koteas. Koteas is best known for playing Det. Alvin Olinsky on the television program Chicago P.D. Here, he was recast and portrayed by Richard Laing

-In the Macau magic shop, Li introduces himself as "not Bruce Lee". This is a reference to the film version of the TV show The Green Hornet. In the film, Jay Chou played Kato, the role originally played by Bruce Lee

-On the flight to Macau, the type of plane used is a Embraer Legacy 600. In the final scenes, the type of plane used is an Embraer Legacy 650

-In the scene where Atlas breaks into the security room and slaps a fake identification bracelet on the engineer, the name reads "Mark D. Stooge." "Mark" is someone who is the victim or target. "D" being another way of saying "the" and "Stooge" being the one who takes the fall. The initial "D" could also stand for Dupe, a word meaning someone who is easily deceived into serving a purpose for someone else

Now You See Me (2013)

This film stars Jesse Eisenberg as the leader of a group of magicians / illusionists trying to elude the law

Summary

-The FBI and Interpol work together to catch a group of magicians and illusionists calling themselves the Four Horsemen who pull off heists during their shows and put that money into the accounts of their audience members








Cast

-Jesse Eisenberg: J. Daniel Atlas

-Mark Ruffalo: Dylan Rhodes

-Woody Harrelson: Merritt McKinney

-Isla Fisher: Henley Reeves

-Dave Franco: Jack Wilder

-Melanie Laurent: Alma Dray

-Morgan Freeman: Thaddeus Bradley

-Michael Caine: Arthur Tressler

-Michael Kelly: FBI Agent Fuller

-Common: Evans

-Jose Garcia: Etienne Forcier

-Caitronia Balfe: Jasmine Tressler

Did You Know?

-The initial card trick in the beginning is real. No editing was done. It's known as a "card force". This is done when a magician makes the unsuspecting audience member pick a prechosen card. The audience member thinks they have picked a random card, and is reinforced by the magician re-shuffling the deck several times. Only this is just misdirection

-Isla Fisher is seen wearing gloves throughout the whole film. This is because Isla Fisher explained in interviews that her character Henley Reeves is germaphobic

-The final scene was at the Pont des Arts in Paris, France. This is said to have an estimated one million "love locks" attached to it. Following years of complaints from locals, city council workmen have been ordered to start removing the locks

-Near the beginning of the film, the hands of Dan or Dave Buck are seen, but the face of Jesse Eisenberg is digitally composited. Dan and Dave Buck are twin magicians known for their expert skill in sleight of hand tricks in addition to cardistry. One of the most difficult moves in cardistry is called "Pandora" and it is the series of moves seen in this film

-In J. Daniel Atlas' apartment, there is a poster showing magician Lionel Shrike

-In the final scene, where Interpol officer Alma Dray is reading the French newspaper, she reads an old article about magician Lionel Shrike passing away sometime in the 1970s. The photo used is of actor Elias Koteas, best known for playing Det. Alvin Olinsky on the television program Chicago P.D.

-Jake Gyllenhaal was a possible consideration for the role of Dylan Rhodes, before the role went to Mark Ruffalo





-In the scene where Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) is introduced, he is said to be a master pickpocket. In the 1968 film Oliver!, Jack Wild played The Artful Dodger, who was also a pickpocket

-There is another movie, from 2006 called The Prestige, which starred Sir Michael Caine and also involved magic

-Sir Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Jesse Eisenberg seem to have appeared in films based on comic characters from the DC Universe while Mark Ruffalo appeared in films based on Marvel Universe characters

-During the fight scene between Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo), both actors have confirmed that Franco actually did cut Ruffalo's face with the cards he threw

-The Tarot cards prove to be an essential plot point here. J. Daniel Atlas' (Jesse Eisenberg) gets the  "Lovers" card, which coincides with his prowess with the ladies. Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson) gets "Hermit", which refers to his brother destroying him and leaving him alone with nothing. Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) gets "High Priestess", a reference to her trick with the piranha-filled bloody tank, a sort of blood sacrifice. Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) gets "Death", foreshadowing his own death later on

-When the Four Horsemen are arrested, Merritt McKinney says "There's no shame for a man to wear a dress." This is a reference to former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. It was revealed, after his death, that he was a cross-dresser

-In New Orleans, when Arthur Tressler threatens Thaddeus Bradley with financial ruin, Morgan Freeman, in return, states that, when Tressler is holding the voodoo doll "You shouldn't have done that. According to the superstition, one who uses a doll to enact one's own wrath is likely to bring that very wrath unto himself." At the end of the New Orleans show for the Four Horsemen, that very same financial ruin occurs on Tressler

Friday, June 21, 2024

80 Memorable Quotes from Harry Potter Pt. III

The Harry Potter films and books are much beloved by those of all ages and walks of life. It's no wonder there is a specific area set in Orlando, Florida's Universal Studios theme park called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. People love the films and books that much. According to Reader's Digest, here are 80 memorable quotes from Harry Potter. Some are cautionary quotes, others are inspirational

Harry Potter quotes about friendship

50. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things-friendship and bravery..."- Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Prior to facing off against Lord Voldemort, book smart Hermione reveals her admiration for Harry's bravery in getting the Sorcerer's Stone

51. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

52. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!"- Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Ron said this prior to finding out that escaped criminal Sirius Black was not only Harry's godfather, but also innocent of any crimes that he was accused of

53."I enjoyed the meetings, too. It was like having friends."- Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. This was said in reference to the D.A. (Dumbledore's Army), the secret defense group Harry and his friends formed to teach themselves defensive spells in their fifth year

54. "[James] called it my 'furry little problem' in company. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit."- Remus Lupin remarking on his werewolf condition, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

55. Dumbledore: "You do them a disservice by not confiding something this important to them." Harry: "I didn't want-" Dumbledore: "-to worry or frighten them? Or perhaps, to confess that you yourself are worried and frightened? You need your friends, Harry."- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

56. "We're with you whatever happens."- Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

57. "We're coming with you. That was decided months ago - years, really."- Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Prior to starting their journey to destroy the Horcruxes, items containing bits of the soul of Lord Voldemort, Hermione made it clear they were going to do this together

Harry Potter film quotes

58. "You're a wizard, Harry"- Rubeus Hagrid, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Hagrid says this upon finally meeting Harry when he's older

59. "You're saying it wrong. It's leviOsa, not levioSA."-Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Hermione is trying to teach Ron the proper pronunciation of the incantation known as the Levitating Spell

60. "Happiness can found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film). This was said in the film, not the books at the end of year feast

61. "What's life without a little risk?"- Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)

62. "Nice one, James."- Sirius Black to Harry, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film). Said at the part of the film where Sirius is fighting alongside Harry in the Department of Mysteries. One would think that by looking at and hearing this line that Sirius considers Harry to be a replacement of his father

63. "Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect."- Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

64. "You can't deny, Dumbledore's got style."- Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film). Said at the part where Harry is in Dumbledore's office and Dumbledore escapes with his pet phoenix. One of the pictures on the wall of his office is a former headmaster named Phineas Nigellus Black who says a different version of this phrase in the book

65. "Dobby never meant to kill! Dobby only meant to maim, or seriously injure!"- Dobby, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1 (film)

66. "I've always wanted to use that spell!"- Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1 (film). Professor McGonagall is referring to an incantation that animates the suits of armor all around Hogwarts and brings them to life, gaining assistance in the Battle of Hogwarts

67. "It is the quality of one's convictions that determines success, not the number of followers."- Remus Lupin, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (film)

68. "Words are, in my no so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2 (film)

Classic Harry Potter quotes

69. "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This is the opening line to the much beloved series. It's the first line you read in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. That line all but tells you the normalcy is about to end and you can't wait to see it unfold

70. "The wand chooses the wizard."- Mr. Ollivander, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

71. "I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed - or worse - expelled."- Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

72. "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Dumbledore eliminates Harry's thinking about he would have been better suited for Slytherin House rather than Gryffindor House

73. "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"- Dobby, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Dobby says this to Lucius Malfoy, when he realizes that Tom Riddle's diary, which he gave Ginny, contained a sock. House elves are set free with clothes and when Dobby sees that Harry gave him one of his socks, Lucius Malfoy is set to attack Harry with the wand he keeps hidden in his walking stick

74. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."- The Marauder's Map, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (and beyond). This is the quote you say to activate The Marauder's Map

75. "You place too much importance on, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be! It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!"- Albus Dumbledore to Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

76. "If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person in the school will read your interview, it was banning it!"- Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She says this in reference to an exclusive interview Harry did, talking about Voldemort's return to power and new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Dolores Umbridge bans students from reading it

77. "Weasley can save anything,

He never leaves a single ring,

That's why Gryffindors all sing:

Weasley is our King."-The Gryffindor House in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. They take the song that Slytherin House created, which was originally intended to mock Ron's Keeping abilities on the Quidditch team and adapt it for Gryffindor House

78. "Always."- Severus Snape, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. When Dumbledore asks Snape if he continued to love Lily Evans-Potter, "after all this time", Snape says "Always."

79. "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

80. "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."- Harry, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The final line uttered by Harry, as he, Ginny, Hermione and Ron are watching their children board the Hogwarts Express

Thursday, June 20, 2024

80 Memorable Quotes from Harry Potter Pt. II

The Harry Potter films and books are much beloved by those of all ages and walks of life. It's no wonder there is a specific area set in Orlando, Florida's Universal Studios theme park called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. People love the films and books that much. According to Reader's Digest, here are 80 memorable quotes from Harry Potter. Some are cautionary quotes, others are inspirational

Harry Potter love-related quotes

21. "To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever"- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

22. Harry: "I didn't want anyone to talk to me." Ginny: "Well, that was a bit stupid of you, seeing as you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels." - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

23. "It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love."- Horace Slughorn, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It's from the part of the book where Professor Slughorn shows them a love potion on their first day, but mentions there's a drawback

24. "When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love."- Horace Slughorn, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

25. Lord Voldemort: "Nothing I have seen in the world has supported your pronouncements that love is more powerful than my kind of magic, Dumbledore." Dumbledore: "Perhaps you have been looking in the wrong places."- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

26. Remus Lupin: "Tonks deserves somebody young and whole." Arthur Weasley: "But she wants you." Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Tonks and Lupin may not be a well known couple in the series, but Tonks proving that Lupin is worthy of love is worth noting

27. "What do I care how he looks? I am good looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!"- Fleur Delacour, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Her fiancee is Bill Weasley, one of the older brothers of the Weasley family. He's just been attacked by a werewolf named Greyback. Mrs. Weasley suggests that Fleur may not be interested in marrying him anymore, but Fleur ignores it

28. "I never really gave up on you. Not really. I always hoped..."- Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She had a small crush on Harry Potter starting from her first year at Hogwarts. Four years later, they fell for each other

29. "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living. And above all, pity those who live without love."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Funny Harry Potter quotes

30. "I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I'm not there."- Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This is what his Uncle Vernon made him say before a big dinner party he was throwing in the hopes of landing a large deal with a wealthy contractor

31. "Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have."- Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She said this in the book when Harry told her about his disastrous date with Cho Chang

32. "We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat."- George Weasley, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. When Harry first meets the Weasley family on the train platform, the twins are trying to cheer up Ginny, who is too young to attend the magical school. And ironically, Dumbledore informs Harry that Fred and George tried to send a toilet seat to him after his fight with Professor Quirrell

33. "You haven't got a letter on your [sweater]. I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid- we know we're called Gred and Forge."- George Weasley, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. At Christmas, the twins are the only ones of Mrs. Weasley's children who get sweaters with their initials on them. And George jokes about it

34. "Alas! Ear wax!"- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. While visiting Harry in the hospital wing, he discovers someone has brought him a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans

35. Molly Weasley: "Your sons flew that car to Harry's house and back last night! What have you got to say about that, eh?" Arthur Weasley: "Did you really? Did it go all right?"- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. George, Ron and Fred Weasley took an enchanted Ford Anglia that their father had been messing around with and used it to rescue Harry from his aunt and uncle's house

36. "Of all the trees we could have hit, we had to get one that hits back."- Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This is said just after Harry and Ron crash the Anglia into the school's Whomping Willow tree

37. "Amazing! Amazing! This is just like magic!"- Gilderoy Lockhart, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Down in the tunnels leading to the chamber, Professor Lockhart takes Ron's broken wand, hoping to use a Memory Spell on both Harry and Ron. Not realizing that using Ron's broken wand, and that any spell would automatically ricochet back onto the user, his Memory Spell backfires onto him, erasing his memory. Fawkes the Phoenix is lifting Harry, Ron, Ginny and Professor Lockhart out of the chambers

38. Rita Skeeter: "Congratulations, Harry! I wonder if you could give me a quick word? How you felt facing that dragon? How you feel now, about the fairness of the scoring?" Harry: "Yeah, you can have a word. Good bye." - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

39. George: "Hello, Harry. We thought we heard your dulcet tones." Fred: "You don't want to bottle up your anger like that, Harry, let it all out. There might be a couple of people 50 miles away who didn't hear you."- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry is venting his frustration at being stuck at his uncle and aunt's house and knowing nothing of the goings-on in the wizarding world, feeling like he's being purposely kept in the dark

40. "You're just as sane as I am."- Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

41. Hermione: "Harry, don't go picking a row with Malfoy, don't forget, he's a prefect now, he could make life difficult for you." Harry: "Wow, I wonder what it'd be like to have a difficult life?"- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

42. "[Harry] has achieved high marks in every Defense Against the Dark Arts test set by a competent teacher."- Professor Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In both the book and film, Professor McGonagall shows her sarcastic attitude towards Professor Dolores Umbridge's terrible reign

43. " Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question... One: he's sitting on my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin."- Remus Lupin. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This comes from a memory of him as a teen, sitting for his O.W.L. exam, remarking on a certain question

44. Snape: "Do you remember me telling you we are practicing non verbal spells, Potter?" Harry: "Yes," Snape: "Yes, sir." Harry: "There's no need to call me 'sir', Professor."- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

45. Harry: "What does [The Unbreakable Vow] mean?" Ron: "Well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow..." Harry: "I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough."- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

46. "He can move faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo."- Fred Weasley on Voldemort's ability of flight, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

47. "We teachers are rather good at magic, you know."- Professor Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

48. "We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the one / And Voldy's gone moldy, so now let's have some fun!"- Peeves the Poltergeist, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Ron adds on to the post-Voldemort battle by saying "Really gives a feeling for the scope and tragedy of the thing, doesn't it?"

49. "Don't let it worry you. It's me. I'm extremely famous."- Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In the epilogue of the book, Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron are seeing their own children off to the train, which will take their own children to Hogwarts. Harry's son Albus is wondering why everyone is staring at them. Ron takes the tension off the situation by making this hilarious comment

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

80 Memorable Quotes from Harry Potter Pt. I

The Harry Potter films and books are much beloved by those of all ages and walks of life. It's no wonder there is a specific area set in Orlando, Florida's Universal Studios theme park called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. People love the films and books that much. According to Reader's Digest, here are 80 memorable quotes from Harry Potter. Some are cautionary quotes, others are inspirational

Harry Potter inspirational quotes

1. "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."-Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. Said by Albus Dumbledore when Harry is asking about the co-creator of the Sorcerer's Stone, Nicholas Flamel, dying, now that the stone has been destroyed

2. "It is not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."-Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. It's said at the point of the movie where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised, which spells "desire" backwards, and is looking at his family in the mirror

3. "As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all-the trouble is, humans do have a knack for choosing precisely those things that are worst for them." -Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. It was said to Harry when he woke up in the hospital wing, after capturing the elusive Sorcerer's Stone

4. "Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but of your goodness, Dobby never knew."- Dobby, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. Dobby said that when Harry first met him in the bedroom of his aunt and uncle's house

5. "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain."- Arthur Weasley, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. It's said by him referring to the black leather-bound diary containing the thoughts and memories of the dark one, Lord Voldemort, that hypnotized Ginny

6. "I am what I am, an' I'm not ashamed. 'Never be ashamed', my ol' dad used ter say, 'there's some who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.'"- Rubeus Hagrid, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

7. "If you want to know what a man's like, look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."- Sirius Black, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

8. "What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does."- Rubeus Hagrid, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. These were the final words in the book

9. "Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts open."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. This line was said towards the end of the film, when all three of the wizarding schools taking part in the Triwizard Tournament were together to have an end of year feast. And Professor Dumbledore was giving a eulogy for one of the school's students, Cedric Diggory, who was murdered by the dark Lord Voldemort

10. "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. This was part of the speech at the end of year feast and also part of the same speech that included Cedric Diggory's eulogy and the quote from above

11. "Constant Vigilance!"-Barty Crouch Jr. as Professor Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. In this film, Barty Crouch Jr. is the son of one of the Ministry of Magic employees. He takes a magical potion called Polyjuice Potion, which transforms the person into someone else. He transforms himself into the professor to get Harry into the Triwizard Tournament. While posing as a teacher, he delivers this interesting line while the real Mad Eye Moody would never say this

12. "We must unite inside [Hogwarts] / Or we'll crumble from within/ I have told you, I have warned you... / Let the Sorting now begin." The Sorting Hat, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. In it's song to kick off the new year, after the dark Lord Voldemort has returned, the Sorting Hat gives a warning and shows how difficult it finds the job of "dividing" the students into the different Houses at a time when unity is more important than ever

13. "Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix.

14. "Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve."- Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

15. "Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

16. "Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!"- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

17. "I don't think you're a waste of space"- Dudley Dursley, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. It might seem surprising that such an inspirational quote would come from the cousin who all but tortured Harry growing up, but it's a nice, refreshing change to see that Dudley steps away from his parent's mold and shows his appreciation for Harry

18. "Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving."- Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

19. "And what if we want to stay and fight?"- Ernie Macmillan, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Early in the books, Ernie Macmillan was a pompous, arrogant student who fully believes that Harry was the Heir of Slytherin in The Chamber of Secrets. But when the final fight at Hogwarts starts up, he is the first to issue the call to battle

20. "It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well."- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

Sunday, December 1, 2013

December Birthdays

Since it's December, I wanna give a big huge Happy Birthday shout out to the following people

Gabriel Jagger
-Birth name: Gabriel Luke Beaureguard Jagger
-DOB: 12/9/1997
-Going to be: 16
-Stepbrother of Jade and Karis Jagger
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-Birth name: Lucy Alexis Liu
-DOB: 12/2/1968
-Where: Queens, New York
-Going to be: 45
-Did not learn English until she was 5 because her family spoke Mandarin Chinese
-Birth name: John Michael Osbourne
-DOB: 12/3/1948
-Where: Aston, Birmingham, England
-Going to be: 65
-Was one of the first original "shock rockers"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marisa Tomei
-DOB: 12/4/1964
-Where: Brooklyn, New York
-Going to be: 49
-Parents were an English teacher and trial lawyer
Simon Helberg
-Birth name: Simon Maxwell Helberg
-DOB: 12/9/1980
-Where: Los Angeles, California
-Going to be: 33
-Does dead voice impersonations of Nicholas Cage and other actors
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-Birth name: Archie David Kao
-DOB: 12/14/1969
-Where: Washington, D.C.
-Going to be: 44
-Played Kai Chen, the blue Power Ranger in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy
Benjamin Bratt
-DOB: 12/16/1963
-Where: San Francisco, California
-Going to be: 50
-Is of Peruvian Indigenous Indian descent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Criss Angel
-Birth name: Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos
-DOB: 12/19/1967
-Where: Hempstead, New York
-Going to be: 46
-Is of Greek descent
Denzel Washington
-Birth name: Denzel Hayes Washington
-DOB: 12/28/1954
-Where: Mount Vernon, Washington
-Going to be: 59
-Parents were a beauty parlor owner and Pentecostal minister
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-Birth name: Richard Mark Hammond
-DOB: 12/19/1969
-Where: West Midlands, England
-Going to be: 44
-In Nov. 2004, bought a 1969 Dodge Charger

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The Prestige

The Prestige
Summary
-In London at the end of the 19th century, Alfred Borden is a magician. His assistants are a man named Robert Angier and his wife Julia McCullough. When Julia dies accidentally during a water tank trick, Robert blames Alfred and they both become bitter enemies. Robert then obsesses over trying to discover the secret behind Alfred's latest trick, with deadly consequences








Cast
-Hugh Jackman: Robert Angier
-Christian Bale: Alfred Borden
-Michael Caine: Cutter
-Piper Perabo: Julia McCullough
-Rebecca Hall: Sarah Borden
-Scarlet Johansson: Olivia Wenscombe
-David Bowie: Nikola Tesla
-Andy Serkis: Alley
-Jamie Harris: Sullen Warder

Did You Know?
-Chung Ling Soo was a Caucasian man dressed as a Chinese person to cash in on people's love of exotic cultures. William Ellsworth Robinson played this character until a bullet catch trick went wrong, and he spoke his first words in English: "My God, I've been shot". He died in March 1918
-Nikola Tesla was known for his work with electrical currents. He experimented at his lab in Colorado Springs, where he was known for his odd behavior

Friday, June 15, 2012

The Prestige

The Prestige
Click on this link ^ to find where I got the information. So no one thinks I'm stealing.
-2008 British American mystery thriller film directed bt Christopher Nolan
-Follows the story of Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, 2 magicians in London at the end of the 19th century dangerously obsessed with outdoing the other.
-Stars Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier, Christian Bale as Alfred Borden, David Bowie as Nikola Tesla, and also stars Michael Caine, Scarlet Johansson, Andy Serkis






Did You Know?
-Borden's infant was played by one of Christopher Nolan's kids
-Nikola Tesla was a world famous physicist, engineer and inventor. He was known for his odd behavior and conducting experiments with electricity in Colorado Springs
Plot
-Alfred Borden(Christian Bale) is a magician who is being charged with the murder of Robert Angie(Hugh Jackman). Both were assistants fo "Milton the Magician"(Ricky Jay) with engineer John Cutter(Michael Caine). Angier's wife Julia(Piper Perabo) was drowned during a water cell act and Angier blames Borden. Alfred is unable to remember if he tied her with an experimental knot. They become very bitter enemies, with the intention of disrupting each other's acts. Borden becomes "The Professor" with enigmatic Bernard Fallon as his assistant while Angier becomes "The Great Danton" with a new love, Olivia Wenscombe(Scarlet Johansson) and Cutter helping. Angier is angered when Borden meets and marries Sarah(Rebecca Hall) and they have a child, a daughter, Jess(Samantha Mahurin). Angier messes around with Borden's bullet catch, costing Borden two fingers. Borden then ruins Angier's bird cage act, maiming an audience member and destroying his reputation.
-Borden suprises everyone with "The Transported Man" act, where he enters one cabinet and comes out another. Angier and Cutter fight over its possibility of performance and Cutter insists that a double is helping Borden. Angier hires a drunk actor named Root(also played by Jackman) to be his double. "The New Transported Man" astounds everyone, but Angier hates hiding under the stage as Root gets the applause. He sends Olivia to find out Borden's secret, but she falls in love with him instead. She leaves as a parting gift, Borden's secret diary of tricks to Angier. Borden manages to ruin Angier by removing a stage pad and crippling him badly, while Root is asking for more pay. Angier and Cutter bury Fallon alive to be released for the secret code to the diary.










-They find the code is "Tesla" and Angier tracks down Nikola Tesla(David Bowie) to Colorado Springs alone as Cutter leaves Angier to his obsession. He has Tesla make a copy of a teleportation device thar he thinks Borden used. Cheated by Borden after learning from the diary that he is on a quest that is pointless, Angier finds the machine works, but creates duplicates of one person. After Thomas Edison sends men to to torch his lab, Tesla leaves, warning Angier to destroy it. Elsewhere, Borden's pursuits alienate his wife Sarah, who hangs herself because she felt unloved by Borden






-Angier returns to London, shocking audiences with his "Transported Man" trick, vanishing inside the machine and reappearing in the hall. In reality, he goes through a trap door and into a water tank, drowning, while the machine creates his copy; the tanks are removed by blind stage people. Borden sees Angier drown while slipping backstage and he tries to save him, but is it is too late. Angier is dead and he is convicted of the murder. While in prison, Borden is visited by a man sent by a mysterious Lord Caldlow, who offers to care for Jess in exchange for Borden's secrets. He is given Angier's diary and finds that his conviction has been set up, and he recognizes Lord Caldlow as Angier. Instead, Caldlow rips them up, leaving with Jess. Borden is hanged after telling Fallon to live for them both
-Cutter learns what Caldlow has done, buying Angier's tricks including the machine, so he visits Caldlow to plead for it's demise. He recognizes Angier, who admits that he has always been Lord Caldlow, but pretended to be the American Robert Angier to spare his family the embarassment of a career in theatre. Cutter suddenly understands that Borden's death was plannes but accompanies Caldlow to a building to store Tesla's machine. On his way out, Cutter nods to Borden as he enters, who shoots Caldlow. Borden tells him that he and Fallon, whose real name was Freddy, were identical twins who shared their lives on stage and off. They lost fingers and shared the woman they loved, keeping the illusion they were a single man. Borden loved Sarah more than his job, and survived, while Freddy who loved Olivia, was killed. Caldlow replies that his every performance needed a living Caldlow to drown with his copy surviving to continue, repeatedly living through Julia's pain and suffering. Borden leaves "Angier" to die as fire consumes the building and Cutter reunites Borden with his daughter.
Cast

Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier / The Great Danton.
Christian Bale as Alfred Borden / The Professor.
Michael Caine as John Cutter, the stage engineer who works for Angier.
Piper Perabo as Julia McCullough, Angier's wife.
Rebecca Hall as Sarah Borden: Borden's wife.
Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, Angier's assistant and lover.
David Bowie as Nikola Tesla, the real-life inventor who creates a teleportation device for Angier.
Andy Serkis as Mr. Alley, Tesla's assistant.
Ricky Jay as "Milton the Magician", an older magician Borden and Angier work for at the beginning of the story.