Geek Force FiveCast 222: John Williams

In which, following a performance of “Hedwig’s Theme” at the Hollywood Bowl, ECC geeks out about the possible return of composer John Williams to the Harry Potter film series.

The Special Effects of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

The special effects company behind Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has released a video detailing the work that went into some of the film’s fantastic special effects.

Thanks to Mugglenet for linking this up.

Geek Force FiveCast 212: Splitting HP7

In which ECC geeks out about news of where the narrative of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be split for the big screen.

Geek Force FiveCast 199: Half-Blood Who?

In which ECC wonders if the sixth film in the Harry Potter series was fit to be called Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

When Harry Met Weasley

Check out this awesome photo by Harry Potter producer David Heyman from way back in the day. It captures the day that Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) first met. It accompanies a blog post from the Los Angeles Times that explores Heyman’s relationship with the development of the film series that’s also well worth a read.

And then, for the truly crazy Potter fan, there is this gem of a link that comes to us from Bethany Snyder. For the low, low price of $49, you can get your very own hand-crafted, faithful-to-the-books Ollivander wand.

Geek Force FiveCast 198: HP6 - Everybody Gets Stoned

In which ECC geeks out about all of the drug use in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Make Your Photos Move - Harry Potter Style

Special thanks go out to Steve Garfield for linking up this great Photojojo tutorial on how to make moving pictures, just like in the Harry Potter films. It seems to me that this is the perfect way to end our post-HP premiere Monday. Anyone ever tried this? Have any results that you’d like to share?

Geek Force FiveCast 197: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In which ECC reviews the sixth film of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

IGN’s Top 25 Harry Potter Characters

In honor of the release of the sixth film in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, IGN has picked the top 25 characters from the Potter universe.

In describing their #21 pick, Nymphadora Tonks—”Don’t call me Nymphadora!”—IGN writes, “Most of the wizards we see in Harry Potter are either experienced adults – often professors of course – or the underage students who are the focus of the series. This helps make Tonks a refreshing change of pace, as she represents a young adult wizard – someone who’s completed all of her training, but still has the brash, energetic attitude of youth.”

She’s certainly one of my favorites, and I think she should probably be a bit higher (I’d knock #16, Cho Chang, down a few pegs to make that possible). But, other than that, I think IGN has got the list pretty much dead-on. How about you?

Behind the Magic of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

As I type this, the clock on Mugglenet that is counting down to the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince reads 1 day, 7 hours, 36 minutes, and 22 seconds. While you wait patiently, here’s some choice linkage!

Yahoo! has an exclusive new scene of Harry and Dumbledore discussing horcruxes. Mugglenet has links to a five-part YouTube capture of an ITV special on the making of the new film (part one is embedded above, and the remaining parts are here, here, here, and here). And, if that still isn’t enough Harry for you, check out this interview with director David Yates on the forthcoming film adaptations of the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, wherein he calls the kiss between Hermione and Ron “a hell of a snog.”