ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!

It looks like Queen Elsa is helping this association with ice bucket challenges to raise awareness and money for research. What is ALS? ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease which is a sort of neurological disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal chord. This disease currently has no known cure and this is where the ice bucket challenge comes in. Money is needed to continue the research to find a cure.

Since July the idea spread to have a bucket of ice water dumped over your head and then you challenge at least three other people to do the same within 24 hours. If not, then the nominee must donate $100 to the cause. However, even if you accept the challenge of getting ice dumped on to your head, you still have to pay, but just not the $100 flat. To find out more visit: alsa.org

This phenomenon has swept the globe to not just the every day people, but to the actors, politicians, singers, and maybe authors. So far we have had numerous known people like George W. Bush, Anne Hathaway, and Shakira have done it and you can check their video on youtube.

All in all there are few celebrities in the world of Harry Potter and other fantasy realms who have taken the challenge:

Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) with the actor for teenage James Potter

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange)

Ian McKellen (Gandalf/Magneto)

Warwick Davis (Flitwick/Griphook/Wicket/Nikabrik)

Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi)

R2-D2

These are a few that have been listed. Other have been nominated and accepted. They will be posted in due time. Emma Watson has also been nominated for the challenge, but no word from her of her acceptance. The Prophet will notify their readers immediately when she has done it.

Rick Riordan's Blood of Olympus Tour

The Prophet has announced earlier that final book in the Heroes of Olympus is to be released this October 7th.

A week ago, Rick Riordan has released his tour date for the book's release. Here is the schedule and information on the tour. This is important if he is coming to an area near you because the Prophet's members have been present to his Mark of Athena book tour at the Concord Mills Mall and his blogpost proved very helpful.

The Prophet's own personal advice: Get to the location early to clear any confusion concerning the event. Each place does the event a little differently and as Riordan has stated check the individual hosts for further detailed information on they will be working through the event.

The Dog and the Faerie - The Roles of Godparents in Sirius and Maleficent

The first official discussion post for the Prophet is here! The first topic of discussion will be on Maleficent and its close resemblance to the Harry Potter series. Before going through a huge, heavy, and heated conversation about it, we will go through a few rundown similarities between them. WARNING: Spoilers lie ahead for those who have not yet seen Maleficent.

First lets analyze the similarities between Harry and Aurora:

1. At a very early age they both were cursed with green flashes being involved.

Harry: The Killing Curse (green flash, survived, horcrux, lightning bolt scar)

Aurora: Sleeping Curse like Death (green fire flash, break with true love)

Both curses forced both Harry and Aurora to live the life of an orphan and live with neglectful relatives. Though the pixies weren't at all related to Aurora, but the point is clear.

2. In their adolescents they met their godparent, who did not involve themselves too much in their godchild lives due to their own dark past.

Harry's Sirius: falsely accused of murder and betraying the Potters

Aurora's Maleficent: cursed Aurora and has been betrayed by Stefan

3. Both have an unusual kindness for the people and creatures around them.

4. Believed their fathers to be good hearted people

Harry's James: A bully to Snape

Aurora's Stefan: Betrayed and hurt Maleficent

5. Ran into danger, only to be saved by their godparent or at least attempted.

Harry: Flew to the Ministry of Magic thinking he was saving Sirius, but Sirius chased after to save Harry and lost his life

Aurora: Rode home to see her father, fell under the sleeping curse, Maleficent chased after and saved Aurora.

Of course we could go on, but we will be here for a very long time. So in more ways than one both Harry and Aurora are similar in personality and in their fate.  Now let's discuss the godparents.

As Harry Potter fans, the bond between Sirius and Harry is very well known, touching, and even heartbreaking when reaching Order of the Phoenix. In truth Harry Potter has opened the gate way to the possibility that people don't have to be related to feel a parental role over a child.

Sirius was a reckless godfather in more ways than one, but he was also very much a parent too, but from a distance. Molly noted Sirius to be incapable of parenting Harry as she noted in OOTP. "He's not James, Sirius!"

But Sirius does care for Harry. He comforts him and gives very unique and powerful advice. "The world is not split between good and Death Eaters. We all have bit of light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That is who we really are."

This year, Disney released Maleficent telling this infamous character's story. Maleficent had a hard and dark past with King Stefan, but she was able to slowly open herself up to Stefan's daughter Aurora. Maleficent and Aurora's relationship is slowly built and formed.

When Aurora as a teenager finally meets Maleficent, Aurora knows who she is "You're my faerie godmother". Laughter is the first thing to come to mind at the silliness of this child and the irony for it was Maleficent who cursed her. But in more ways than one Aurora is correct because Maleficent did watch over her and saved her life one a couple of occasions. Maleficent probably disagrees, but lets Aurora believe what she wants. However, Aurora was right because Maleficent risks her own life to save her and indeed she saves her by giving a motherly kiss on the forehead. This kiss breaks the curse.

Disney is finally changing their colors from Frozen to Maleficent. It has even astounded the Prophet that Maleficent broke the old classic fairy tale mold.Usually, a step mother or step parent is the evil and unfriendly character, but here Maleficent proved otherwise.

True there were many influences for Maleficent, but could Harry Potter have been one of those major influencing factors?

 Others even noticed and believed Maleficent should have died like Sirius so it would make Aurora fulfill her journey. Would it have been better if Maleficent was killed in the end? 

Do you agree with the similarities? 

Are Sirius and Maleficent good parents? Why or why not? What are your views on this discussion?

Please share your thoughts and answers below.

Looking Behind and Looking Ahead

Sad News Potter Watch fans: NO MORE POTTER WATCH!

As UNC Charlotte is warming up for another year of academic vigilance the Harry Potter club started by Micheal Burson seven years ago will not be joining the new year. It has been announced earlier this summer that the club has been cancelled due to the failure of obtaining a new headmaster or headmistress for the following year.

True that Potter Watch would have been celebrating its seventh anniversary, but the Daily Prophet will still be going on in their sixth year of existence and its second year as a blog. Yes the Prophet will continue their Harry Potter spirit for the UNC Charlotte Potter fans with a promise of a whole new ray of fun.

The Prophet will be hosting discussions, games, trivia, and all sorts of fun. In the past it had even given prizes, but this will not continue. It will be simply for fun and the chance for Potter fans to hang out together on the blog.

SUMMER REVIEW:

This summer two amazing fantasy adventures have been released that requires the Prophet's attention:

1. Maleficent

On May 30th, Disney released the film that told story of one of Disney's most infamous villains Maleficent. The film got a usual mild response from critics, but many truly loved the deep layered story. People have noticed the immense similarity the film had to its predecessor Frozen in November 2013. Due to its popularity, the Prophet will be doing a discussion topic tomorrow on Maleficent.

2. How to Train Your Dragon 2

The story continued on June 13th for Hiccup, Toothless, and their town of Berk. The story is just as promising as its prequel starting where the previous had left off. However, a few years later and we meet a whole new ray of characters and surprising plot twists that brought tears to our eyes.

Maleficent DVD Release!

One of the few great summer blockbusters, which the prophet will be going into detail further sometime next week, of this year was Maleficent. The re-envisioned tale of Sleeping Beauty starring the legendary Angelina Jolie will be hitting the shelves of your local stores this November. Well, November 4th to be precise.

There will be three versions to be released on that date. One is the three-disc edition: Blue-ray, DVD, and digital copy along with deleted and behind the scenes features. Another will be a regular single disc copy which will be just the DVD with no special features. The thirds is the digital copy itself.

Each version is designed slightly different from each other, but pictures of their details will be posted as the release date approaches.

Wizarding World Update

Recently in July two major news have unleashed for Harry Potter fans everywhere.

Universal Studios Orlando has finished and opened the new addition to their Wizarding World. Yes, Diagon Alley opened this past July 8th along with other known alleys like Knockturn Alley and even the Rowling only mentioned Horizont Alley. This knew addition provides a lot more features that Hogsmeade could not provide: Gregoravitch's Wand Shop, Kreacher, Knight Bus, ice cream in a variety of new flavors, Skiving Snack boxes, and a wider variety of meals and beverages. There is even a puppet show of The Tale of Three Brothers.

Japan has also opened their own Wizarding World of Harry Potter and this one includes the Black Lake. Rowling inspected it and later on the opening day both Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) attended.

Finally, Universal Studios in Hollywood will be releasing their own Wizarding World in the near future. In the meantime here is a picture of the construction of Hogsmeade village.

Snow Queen Comes to Storybrooke

On Septemer 28th, Once Upon a Time will be introducing us to the characters of Frozen. So yes, if you are planning a trip to Storybrooke this autumn then bundle up because the forecast calls for eternal magic snow, cold, and freezing ice.

The Frozen storyline will continue where the film left off, but OUAT creators will make sure that if Disney wishes to do a sequel in the future than they will still be able to. The creators are entering this freezing world with great care.

Once Upon a Time will be welcoming Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Pabbie, Sven and Hans (unfortunately yes, but every good story needs a good villain) Even more unfortunate no Olaf. Here are few released pictures of these chilling characters from the upcoming new season.