Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1: Review

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is like eating Chinese food.  You may seem full, but 20 minutes later hunger sets in!  Part 1 of an epic 2 part finale to this pop culture phenomenon was fantastic!  The movie ends with the same feeling as your favorite television show cuts to commercial during a cliffhanging moment!   If this is your introduction to the Harry Potter series you will be disappointed.  Fans of the books and movies have developed a relationship with these characters over the years and have followed their progress religiously.  The plot line follows closely to the book, and the visuals custom to the other Potter films will not disappoint!  I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end dreading the wait until July for closure! Ron, Hermoine, and Harry are as close as ever and for the first time do not return to Hogwarts.  Harry is on a final mission to destroy the remaining Horcruxes in preparation for his final showdown with Voldemort.  In addition we finally get the back story on Harry’s cloak of invisibility!  Alan Rickman is wonderful as Professor Snape, and Ralph Fiennes is Lord Voldemort!  The only bad thing about seeing this film is realizing the series is at its conclusion.  Except for DVD, this is the last time you will hear Expecto Patronum!

Confessions Of A Video Game Addict

     I love video games; there is no denying that fact.  They help escape reality, and allow the gamer to do things otherwise impossible in the real world.  Video games are no doubt the lazy man’s way of reading.  They enable someone to become a character in a fantasy world created by technology.  Funny thing is I can’t think of an instance when a relationship was lost, meals were skipped, hygiene ignored, and work was lost over a book.

     Games like World Of Warcraft and Ever Quest are huge online games and not designed for a busy person.  I hate to single one game out, but unfortunately it is a necessity to make my point.  I started playing World Of Warcraft roughly 5 years ago.  I was introduced to the game by a friend.  At the time the level cap (maximum level of a character) was 70.  It took me months of solid gaming to achieve this level; half the time invested the other half because I had no idea what I was doing.  I then joined a guild of other players which had scheduled events 3-4 nights per week.  The excitement of Warcraft consumed my thoughts and coursed through my veins 24/7.  I dedicated all of my free time to the game.  My social life began to dwindle.  I stayed home Friday and Saturday nights to play mainly due to fear of missing out on items, achievements, or opportunities.  I turned down dates, skipped meals, and cut myself off from the world.  Summer in Michigan is a precious 3 months but I didn’t care.  I made little money, but as long as my internet was paid for I was happy!  I obviously couldn’t hold a steady relationship, and in hind sight what woman would want to be with me?  I even had a woman leave my apartment in frustration because I couldn’t leave the game for a few hours!  Warcraft was life. 

     After years invested in the game I decided to walk away.  Retire, if you will.  How can you retire from a video game?  You know the story of Barry Sanders.  I was the Barry Sanders of World Of Warcraft.  I walked away with one of the best characters on my server and never looked back.  It wasn’t easy.  I loved the game.  I still play video games on a consistent basis, but not like World Of Warcraft.  I am able to set the controller down, eat a good meal, take a shower, and even socialize with friends.  I still get asked to come back, but I just won’t do it.  Warcraft is like any vice, once addicted it’s hard to put down.  Do I regret all the time invested in that game? Yes.  I wasted years of my life on a video game with no real reward.  You see Warcraft is an unbeatable game.  Once the end is reached, more new content is added, so you never feel satisfied.  It’s like running on a hamster wheel.  My advice, stick with Tetris!