Harry Potter

Is this good news or bad news? I finished Brisingr and then continued onto Inheritance (the last book) and finished it! I don't know if I'm happy or sad because I don't want the series to die but I was really eager to find out the end. Oh well, I guess that's how Christopher wanted it. But what bothers me the most is that Eragon and Arya didn't get together ........ :( WHY!!??

Ok, so recently I started the Harry Potter series for the first time, I know, I know, why didn't I start earlier? Well you see, when I was in grade 5, I read the first few chapters of Harry Potter and didn't really get sucked in so I just gave up and another reason was because I was REALLY into the Percy Jackson series, so into it that in grade 6, I forced my form teacher, Mrs Herbert to read it, turned out she already read the first few books so I gave the last book to her as a birthday present. Under my constant nudging and reminders she finally finished the series (it took a pretty long time).

Back on track, I finished the first book Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone in a couple of days and was surprised to find it so short. In my opinion, the book wasn't really written well in detail (Eragon had so much detail) but it had a very pulling plot so I guess that's why it was so popular. Last night I started Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and was surprised again to find it to be 300 pages also. I guess there's so much happening in the book it's impossible to write in a lot of detail. I am up to the part where Ron and Harry have flown into the whomping willow, can't wait to start reading again.

Introducing Shrek

Below is my paragraph on introducing Shrek (homework for school):

 

In the opening sequence of Shrek, the character Shrek is portrayed as both a stereotypical and non-styreotypical ogre through various techniques such as camera angles, lighting, sounds and script.

Several techniques are used at the start of the film which shows Shrek is a stereotypical ogre, such as when he exits the toilet after using the 'happily ever after' page for toilet paper. In this scene, a low angle shot is used to emphasise his height and bulky figure. When Shrek is tailing the hunters, low key lighting is used to build suspense and mystery to what Shrek might do to the hunters. Sounds like burping, farting and roaring also demonstrate that Shrek is a stereotypical ogre. 

Although Shrek is portrayed as a stereotypical ogre, he also has a more civilised, non-stereotypical side. This is obvious because in the opening sequence, Shrek behaves like a human would, doing things like brushing his teeth, showering and sitting down to a meal. He is also presented as a sarcastic and pessimistic character because when he follows the hunters, he roars and adds humorously "This is the part where you run." In the opening sequence, he is also filmed painting in the sunset which just makes it more obvious he is not just a traditional stereotypical ogre.

The film Shrek combines various techniques such as camera angles, lighting, sound and script to challenge the traditional stereotypical ogre. 

Brisingr (5th March)

For the past few days, I have been continuously chomping through Brisingr therefore I am already a bit past halfway through the book!

In the last post did I mention that Zar'roc (Eragon's sword, was originally Morzan's but was given to Eragon by Brom, his dead instructor) was stolen by Murtagh during battle? He claimed he had rightful inheritance over it since he was Morzan's oldest son. I was outraged when I read this because I had a growing affection for Zar'roc since it helped Eragon through many dangerous situations, now Eragon has a plain old sword, Falchion. This sword was made by one of the Varden's (force opposing Galbatorix) blacksmith and I quite dislike it since it is weak and fragile unlike Zar'roc, a sword enchanted with magic that is made for Riders. Although Zar'roc is red and Riders are supposed to have the same coloured blade as their dragons (Saphira is blue) I still wanted Eragon to keep it. But I guess Zar'roc was destined for Murtagh since Thorn (Murtagh's dragon) is red.

*Spoiler Alert* I was so disappointed with the weapon that I harassed Tune about Eragon's weapons until she told me Eragon was going to forge another sword with an ancient elf (the same elf who made Zar'roc) and the sword was going to be blue and have fire dancing around it! I am now so excited to get to this part and guess what? The sword is named BRISINGR!!

The only problem is that I have a boring part to get through right now; Eragon has to travel to the dwarf's homeland and convince them to raise a king that supports the Varden into power. I hope this part is not as boring as I think!

Brisingr

The book I'm reading now is called Brisingr, by Christopher Paolini. It is the third book in the Inheritance Cycle. I finished the second book (Eldest) yesterday and have just started Brisingr today therefore I cannot write about the plot accurately but basically I think it is just about Eragon and the third Rider training and getting ready for the final battle between Galbatorix and Murtagh. Eragon will probably return to Ellesméra (the elves homeland) to finish his training with Oromis, the last Rider before Eragon.

Background Information:

There was a time when Riders and their dragons brought peace to the world. The connection between the dragon and Rider was very fragile; if the Rider died the dragon would not bear to live but if the dragon died, the rider would still live but would suffer a great deal of pain. Galbatorix's dragon was killed so he asked the Council of Elders for another dragon but they denied him therefore Galbatorix went insane and killed another dragon's Rider to take control of their dragon. Morzan (another Rider) helped him in doing so and soon 12 other Riders joined them to seek power. All of the Riders were soon destroyed apart from Oromis and his dragon, Glaedr. Now Galbatorix is King and he posses 3 eggs, 1 of which hatched for Eragon and 1 hatched for Murtagh (the dragon inside the egg chooses the Rider). Eragon opposes Galbatorix while Murtagh has been forced to pledge his loyalty to Galbatorix using the Ancient Language. In Eldest it is revealed that both Eragon and Murtagh are Morzan's son. The third egg has not yet hatched.

I hope Brisingr is not like Eldest because in Eldest, Christopher wrote about Roran (Eragon's cousin) and his adventures and I disliked that because I thought Roran's adventure was quite boring. Now Roran is reunited with Eragon so I hope there won't be anymore stories in his perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, adventure and mystery.