J.K. Rowling Returns with ‘A Casual Vacancy’

We’re all familiar with the rise of J.K. Rowling as a literary powerhouse. The single mother began by scribbling her ideas for Harry Potter on a napkin and now she’s one of the wealthiest women in the world. And to those of us who grew up with “the boy who lived,” J.K. approaches goddess status. From her mind sprung Harry, Hogwarts, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Dobby, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named… basically, for some of us, our childhood. Read More

To Know and To Love: Dream a Little Dream

“Sweet dreams.” “Dream a little dream of me.” We’ve all heard these phrases before. But what does dreaming mean? Why do we dream? In this week’s column, I’d like to share some personal experiences I have had in the past few weeks with my dreams and some facts about dreaming everyone should know. Read More

Emma Watson Isn’t Just a Wallflower

The Harry Potter star is our September 2012 Girl Crush.

With the two little words “wingardium leviosa” and a flick of her wrist, Emma Watson won the hearts of people everywhere—maybe it was the spell, the little orange and red striped tie or the quick intellectual wit from such an innocent girl. Regardless, we watched her grow into a beautiful, successful individual. Read More

Why Popular Movie Adaptations are Being Split into Parts

By Jill O’Rourke

From Harry Potter and Twilight to The Hunger Games and The Hobbit, our favorite literary adaptations are now being split into parts. The trend has started with final installments breaking in two, but it doesn’t seem crazy to assume that soon the first books in a series will get this treatment. Why are so many movie franchises making this decision? Pink and Black has a few suspicions.

The first and perhaps most obvious reason is to make more money. Even the Harry Potter franchise, which already had seven novels to adapt, broke the final adaptation of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, into two parts released months apart. Before the first movie adaptation of a series is even released, producers and the general public are able to predict how popular it will be based on the books’ following. If an adaptation is number one at the box office for multiple weekends in a row, why not split it into two movies and make twice as much money? Later, when the films are released separately on DVD, there’s an extra source of revenue. Read More

Band to Check Out: Team StarKid

By Amanda Gurock 

So, maybe you can’t put your finger on just where you heard the name Team StarKid, or maybe you’re a huge fan of them and follow all of their projects. Whatever the case, today you’re going to learn a little bit more about this group that has cast a spell on YouTube and other areas of the entertainment industry.

In April 2009, the members of Team StarKid got together on an extremely low budget and produced an original show at the University of Michigan. It was called A Very Potter Musical, and it was a very hilarious take on the story of Harry Potter. The show was filmed and put on YouTube, and the videos went viral within a few days after being posted. Within two years after the video was posted online, Team StarKid became a big name on Perez Hilton’s blog, Access Hollywood, and even MTV. Read More

Top-grossing Films of 2011

By Deidra Goggin

If you’re like me, you like knowing the results of a year’s past: best in fashion, top selling books, and top selling films. The year 2011 was a year of big movies and big box office results. Many of the films released in theaters made millions, but then there are those movies that made more millions. Let’s take a look at the top grossing movies of 2011.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 $381,011,219

Yes, that’s a lot of numbers and money and ultimately the top-grossing movie of 2011. This Harry Potter film was the last one of the series, bringing this magical book and movies series to an end. Harry Potter fans showed their love for the Harry, Ron and Hermione by flocking to the theaters over and over again. This last movie follows the three back to Hogwarts to destroy Voldermort, ensuing a huge battle and displaying the excellent special effects in the film. Read More

Five Things I Learned From Harry Potter

With the final instalment of Harry Potter hitting cinemas worldwide as of 15 July, it’s time for Pink and Black Movies to look back at those little valuable life lessons that The Boy Who Lived and his pals taught us all. Feel free to suggest your own in the comments 

1. Gingers Rule
No offence to the Malfoys but the Weasleys are the most hardcore wizarding family in Harry Potter. There’s loads of them, they love each other (and Harry) to death and Fred and George are a scream. Molly isn’t afraid to step in and protect her family and Ginny managed to bag the most famous wizard in the world- after Merlin. Ron, despite a few wobbles, is loyal to the end and will back you up against bullies. And Bill works with dragons on a daily basis- awesome!

2. Rupert Grint Is Rather Handsome
Watching that pale young red headed boy evolve into a pale young red headed man has been a joy to watch. He’s a snappy dresser, one of the more decent actors in the franchise- and he owns an ice-cream truck. Radcliffe can’t say that.

3. You’re No-one Unless You’ve Been In Harry Potter
The cream of the British acting crop have filled their roles with pride and perfection: Alan Rickman, Dame Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Brendan Gleeson, Jarvis Cocker- these guys don’t get out of bed for just anyone, you know. Clearly, ‘being in Harry Potter’ is a decent thing to add to an already decent acting C.V. Read More

The Latest on ‘Deathly Hallows’

As things stand, we know that the seventh and eighth instalment of the last stage in the Potter saga will be out both this year and next-  make a note in your diaries Potter-heads.

Emma Watson’s new dramatic “do” aside, I can tell you that there are exactly 103 days until the first part is released, and two new promotional photos have been released (with much gratitude to oclumencia.com; see them in this article).

The left picture sees a very adult looking Hermione Granger- post-battle perhaps?- whilst the right shows a brooding Harry Potter in thought. A further picture has been released in France depicting Harry Potter with his wand lit up in what is rumored to be Grimmauld Place. Read More

5 Most Anticipated Fall Films

Summer is in full swing and as we dive head-first into August, you can’t help but think that the end is near. Soon pool parties, beach trips, and sun tans will fade away into fall as we all go back to school. But don’t be too sad. Here are the top five movies that promise to keep fall exciting; the ones we’ve been waiting for.

5. Life As We Know It
With a tragic beginning, reminiscent of Raising Helen, Life As We Know it follows two single people (Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl) who suddenly become parents when their best friends die in an accident. Duhamel and Heigl then have to get used to being new parents, and each other. Other notables in this cast include Josh Lucas and Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks. This hits theathers October 8th.

4. The Social Network
Everyone loves Facebook, now here’s the chance to go behind the scenes and see its creation. Justin Timberlake, Jesse  Eisenberg, Park and Recreation’s Rashida Jones, and the new Spiderman, Andrew Garfield, all star in the drama about everyone’s favorite website. Set to be released, October 1st. Read More

Once More Without Feeling: Movie Franchises that Have Gone on Too Long

Picture this. The year is 3008. Cinemas still exist, one of which you happen to be at. Pre-film trailers are still around too, and when the lights dim and you’ve taken that first mouthful of popcorn the first trailer to flash on screen is none other than…

SAW LXXXVI

Or Saw 84 to those of us not fluent in Roman numerals.

Hopefully the infamous slasher franchise will not reach such longevity (or if gore is up your street you’re probably praying for it), but you have to admit six installments is a little excessive. Admittedly the methods of death got increasingly creative, and I felt the posters were effectively chilling (“Give till it hurts,” anyone?) but as each instalment was released, it seemed to become more about what was bankable than what actually scared anybody. I find that when films become about bank balance as opposed to creativity and entertainment (I fear Twilight may be heading down this route, as did Fast and the Furious before it) they become lacklustre and lame. Read More

Novels to Films: How Harry Potter is Better than Twilight (by adaptation standards)

With the third installment of The Twilight Saga open nationwide, excited fans are grabbing at any sneak peaks or trailers they can to see how close the film is to the 2007 bestseller by Stephenie Meyer. Almost half the films hitting theaters since the beginning of the moving picture have been based off of literature, fairytales, or just local myths passed down through the generations (see: 1996′s Romeo + Juliet, 2010′s Beastly, and 2010′s Clash of the Titans, respectably). But what makes an adaptation successful? Is staying close to the novel really the only defining factor? Read More