Harry Potter

Soapbox: 8 Movie Theories That Are Actually True (And 8 That Definitely Aren’t)

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Crazy-Movie-Theories-Header
Unfortunately, there’s no crazy theory that links Frozen to James Bond…yet

For almost as long as there have been movies, there have been crazy fan theories to go along with them. The internet has only given rise to this phenomenon, with a seemingly endless stream of out-there hypotheses cropping up that claim to put a whole new spin on new and classic films.

Some of these theories are taken very seriously by their proponents. These viewers genuinely believe that – by picking up subtle clues missed by the wider audience – they have unearthed hidden storytelling elements hidden by the filmmakers.

Conversely, other lines of conjecture were only ever intended in jest. These theories are designed simply to entertain, and those involved don’t really believe they hold any factual merit. Sometimes, it’s just plain fun to dream up hilarious alternate readings of blockbusters and innocent family outings.

Regardless of whether they are intended to be earnestly informative or side-splitting, these outlandish theories are typically dismissed by film critics, cinema buffs or even the filmmakers themselves. After all, they couldn’t possibly be true – or could they? As it turns out, sometimes, the answer is actually “yes”!

Here’s a round-up of 8 Crazy Movie Theories That Are Actually True (And 8 That Definitely Aren’t).

This post was written exclusively for Screen Rant – click here to read the full article

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Soapbox: 8 Movie Theories That Are Actually True (And 8 That Definitely Aren’t)

Soapbox: Harry Potter – 15 Wizards More Powerful Than Dumbledore

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Dumbledore-casting-spell
Dumbledore was a magical Jack of All Trades – but was he a master of all of them?

In the Harry Potter universe, Albus Dumbledore is widely regarded as the greatest wizard of the modern era – and rightly so. The Hogwarts headmaster was an exceptionally intelligent and extraordinarily talented sorcerer who mastered virtually every field of magic there is.

Dumbledore’s magical skills were so great he was able to defeat legendary Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald, despite the latter possessing the supposedly unbeatable Elder Wand. Even Lord Voldemort – history’s all-time greatest Dark Wizard – was rumored to fear going wand-to-wand with Albus, which indicates just how impressive his spellcasting prowess truly was.

But was Dumbledore the most powerful wizard who ever lived? Or were there witches and wizards whose magical abilities eclipsed his own? Certainly, there are a couple of candidates from across the centuries who could have given the old professor a run for his money!

Then there are those who – while not necessarily in Dumbledore’s league overall – far surpass his gifts in a particular magical discipline. After all, just because you’re a generally an expert when it comes to any kind of magic, that doesn’t mean you’re quite as good as an actual specialist.

Read on, as we shine the spotlight on 15 Wizards More Powerful Than Dumbledore.

This post was written exclusively for Screen Rant – click here to read the full article

Soapbox: Harry Potter – 15 Wizards More Powerful Than Dumbledore

Crystal Ball: Familiar Faces, New Places And A Whole Lot More Fantastic Beasts – Five Things We Learned From The Crimes Of Grindelwald Trailer

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When Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them arrived in cinemas back in 2016, there was never really any doubt it would be a commercial success. As a continuation of the blockbuster Harry Potter film franchise, David Yates’ film was as close as it comes to a guaranteed box office hit – but the real question was whether it would actually be any good.

Fortunately, it was. Penned by JK Rowling – author of the original book series – Fantastic Beasts felt like an authentic extension of the existing universe, even as it introduced us to new characters and environments. Eddie Redmayne’s magizoologist Newt Scamander proved a suitably likeable replacement for everyone’s favourite boy wizard, and the 1920s setting provided a fresh new spin on a world at risk of becoming stale eight movies on.

Fast forward two years, and a sequel looms on the horizon. Due for release in November, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald seems poised to enchant audiences all over again. Here are five major things we learned from the recent trailer.

Continue reading “Crystal Ball: Familiar Faces, New Places And A Whole Lot More Fantastic Beasts – Five Things We Learned From The Crimes Of Grindelwald Trailer” →

Crystal Ball: Familiar Faces, New Places And A Whole Lot More Fantastic Beasts – Five Things We Learned From The Crimes Of Grindelwald Trailer

Soapbox: 15 Unforgivable Acts Committed By Heroic Movie Characters

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Anakin-Younglings
Destroy a whole planet, and people will forgive you; kill a bunch of kids, however…

Everybody makes mistakes from time to time – and that includes the heroes of the big screen! While even the most severe screw-up can usually be overlooked, sometimes even the good guys do things that are flat-out unforgivable.

There are plenty of reasons why an otherwise virtuous movie character might not deserve to have their sins absolved. Perhaps their actions have horrific consequences (unforeseen or expected) which are so terrible that even the most noble of goals just can’t provide justify things. After all, as they say: the pathway to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Or maybe they committed their dastardly deeds before showing remorse and returning to the side of the angels, which still ends up amounting to “too little, too late.” And then there are those instances where what has been done isn’t so appalling, but – for whatever reason – it affects another character so deeply, that character will never be able to forgive our hero for their actions.

Whatever the reason, the end result is invariably the same: no amount of apologizing is going to let these do-gooders off the hook with audiences! In the time-honored tradition of naming and shaming, we’ve pulled together this list of 15 Unforgivable Acts Committed By ‘Heroic’ Characters.

This post was written exclusively for Screen Rant – click here to read the full article

Soapbox: 15 Unforgivable Acts Committed By Heroic Movie Characters

Soapbox: 15 ‘Tough’ Movie Characters Who Always Get Defeated

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Wolverine-Hugh-Jackman
Turns out Logan might not be the best there is at what he does after all…

Everybody loves a movie tough guy or gal – powerful characters with a reputation for being able to win virtually any fight. Yet a surprising number of these iconic fighters have actually lost almost as many battles as they’ve won (at least based on what we see on screen).

Of course, a large part of this is down to the way that films work. In order for a story to be compelling, our heroes need to struggle – and even occasionally lose! – despite their incredible martial prowess. Similarly, in most instances, villains need to be defeated before the credits roll – which means that they are predestined to be second best, no matter how many times they’ve beaten the hero throughout the story.

That’s why most movie powerhouses earn their street cred by mowing down unfortunate redshirts, only to end up on the wrong end of a brutal beatdown when faced by an opponent at least as skilled as they are: because they’re really only as good at fighting as the story needs them to be at any given moment.

But even taking into account the mechanics of storytelling, you’d be amazed by just how patchy the win-loss record for some of cinema’s most well-known heavy hitters really is.

Don’t believe us? Then check out this list of 15 ‘Tough’ Movie Characters Who Always Get Defeated – we promise you: you won’t believe who made the cut!

This post was written exclusively for Screen Rant – click here to read the full article

Soapbox: 15 ‘Tough’ Movie Characters Who Always Get Defeated

Soapbox: 10 Incredible Movie Cliffhangers (And 5 That Are Absolutely TERRIBLE)

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The-Empire-Strikes-Back
“Bring Your Kid To Work Day” had taken a real turn for the worst…

Cliffhanger endings have been keeping movie audiences on the edge of their seats since virtually the dawn of cinema. Not to be confused with stand alone films containing ambiguous, “open” endings, this storytelling device sees films draw to a close without a true resolution, but rather with the promise of more events to come.

First popularized in serials of the 1920s and 1930s – famous for the “To be continued” text that rounded each instalment – cliffhangers have long proven divisive among cinemagoers. After all, by their nature, cliffhanger endings typically prevent a film from having a truly satisfying conclusion.

How can they, when they’re designed to build anticipation for a follow-up movie containing the story’s actual finale? Even so, when done well, cliffhangers can be a thrilling way to wrap up a film, dramatically raising the stakes even as they surprise viewers with shocking revelations and happenings.

Of course, when they go wrong, cliffhangers can add an extra note of frustration to an already vexing theatrical outing – especially when they tease a sequel that never materializes!

As cinema history is filled to the brim with famous – and infamous! – cliffhanger endings, we’ve pulled together this list of 10 Amazing Movie Cliffhangers (And 5 That Are Terrible) for your reading pleasure.

This post was written exclusively for Screen Rant – click here to read the full article

Soapbox: 10 Incredible Movie Cliffhangers (And 5 That Are Absolutely TERRIBLE)

Soapbox: Harry Potter –15 Things You Never Knew About The Sorting Hat

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Neville-Voldemort-header
Neville may have a cracked noggin, but at least he has a nose!

The Sorting Hat is one of the most well-known and important magical objects in the Harry Potter franchise.

Created by the four founders of Hogwarts, this enchanted headwear has been allocating novice witches and wizards to school houses Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin for centuries.

What this essentially means is that – despite being a tatty old cap designed to handle a matter of school administration – the Sorting Hat has (at least partly) decided the destiny of the wizarding world for generations!

Indeed, despite its ragged appearance and seemingly limited (if vital) purpose, the Hat actually boasts a rich history full of surprises.

Some of its secrets – such as its ability to summon the Sword of Gryffindor – have long since become common knowledge to even casual fans of the Harry Potter books and films.

But just as many fascinating tidbits related to the Hat – including those surrounding its origins and abilities – remain a mystery to less ardent Potterheads.

We’ve sifted through all the available information – including books, films, interviews, plays and web content! – about the Hat, in search of the most interesting trivia.

Here, we present the fruits of these labors: a list of 15 Things You Never Knew About The Sorting Hat.

This post was written exclusively for Screen Rant – click here to read the full article

Soapbox: Harry Potter –15 Things You Never Knew About The Sorting Hat