Things in the Harry Potter series that have made me shake my head

I just finished reading the Harry Potter series for what feels like the 50th time (probably closer to 15 or 20), and I really praise JK Rowling on one of the most captivating and best-selling book series of all time.  She did such a great job.  But if there's one thing (or several) that I would change, it would be the logic used by some of the characters, but not just that: the reason for introducing certain plot devices, characters, etc.  Here are my list of things, by book, that I felt the series could have done without, or needed some change.  Basically, the Harry Potter things that made me shake my head:

Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone
- Dumbledore gives Harry to a family that won't love him
Seriously, why would anyone do that to a baby, other than to maybe toughen him up?  Dumbledore easily could have given Harry to a wizarding family and had them change his name to protect his identity.  Either that or given the family extra protection, such as the fidelius charm.  Sure, the Dursley's just happened to be Harry's only living relatives, but I wouldn't have given a child to a family that wouldn't love him.  This was later explained because their house contained magical protection (since Harry's mom died to save him--she and Petunia have the same blood), but I still would not have subjected a kid to such torture.  I would've had another family adopt him and give him a different name--then when he's old enough tell him the truth.

- Harry is allowed on Quidditch team despite being a first year
This bugs me more than it does other people.  The school rules clearly state Quidditch is open to second years and above.  And yet Harry is allowed on.  To top it off, he got on the team by disobeying a teacher.  Realistically, allowing Potter on the team should have made every first year want to be on a Quidditch team.  Just isn't fair to the others.

- The trio manage to get through obstacles designed to stop the smartest of wizards. 
This wouldn't have bothered me at all if they were near the end of their schooling and ready to become adult wizards.  But they were only FIRST YEARS, having only studied magic for a mere 9 months.  So the part of this that really bothers me is that is wasn't terribly difficult for first years (none of them died).  If it wasn't terribly difficult for them, then the obstacles certainly weren't difficult enough.  There should have been some advanced magic that even competitors in the Triwizard Tournament would have trouble with.

Chamber of Secrets
- Chamber of Secrets never found?
I find it hard to believe that the Chamber of Secrets was never found by someone until Harry and Ron.  Professor Binns (McGonagall in the movie) stated that the school had been searched thoroughly many times.  Yet somehow, they passed over a mysterious sink in the 2nd floor girl's bathroom which had a snake etched into it.  I mean, wouldn't they be looking for a symbol like that, knowing it's SLYTHERIN's chamber they are looking for?  This isn't too big of a head scratcher for me, but maybe I overestimate grown wizards. 

- Harry survives encounter with basilisk
There were a number of things that bothered me with this.  First off, Harry is just 12 here.  Just 12.  He not only manages to avoid its deadly stare (until Fawkes takes out the basilisk's eyes), but he manages to kill it as well.  The basilisk did indeed bite him, and its venom is extremely poisonous, only having one antidote.  And guess what?  That antidote conveniently happened to appear in the form of Fawkes' tears.  Logically speaking, if a 12 year old wizard with a sword and a bird face off against a monstrous basilisk, the basilisk wins every time. 

Prisoner of Azkaban
- The Time-Turner
JKR introducing the Time-Turner was probably her biggest mistake as a writer.  As soon as she introduced it, Harry Potter (the series, not the character) went from fantasy to a bit science fiction.  She strayed away from her book's own genre.  Let's not forget the fact that anyone who has a Time-Turner can reverse any bad thing happening.  She explains it by having them under strict Ministry of Magic control in the Department of Mysteries.  And the fact that they'd trust a 13 year old girl (Honors student or not) with one is astounding. 

- Peter Pettigrew is Scabbers... Fred and George didn't see?
So in Book 3 we learned that Ron's pet rat was actually one of Harry's father's old school friends (and the one that betrayed him).  That was actually a good plot twist that I did not see coming the first time I read the book.  However, also in this book, we learn that Fred and George were in possession of a certain magical map known as the Marauder's Map.  This map shows EVERYONE in Hogwarts, whether they are an Animagus like Pettigrew or not.  Wouldn't they have seen a "Peter Pettigrew" dot in the boys dormitory, often right next to Ron as he slept?  Or how about knowing there is a "Peter Pettigrew" in Gryffindor somewhere but never meeting one with that name?  A real head shaker here...

Goblet of Fire
- Harry has to participate in the Triwizard Tournament just because his name came out of the goblet
I find one of the premises in Goblet of Fire to be the most hard to believe.  So, someone (Barty Crouch Jr.) put Harry's name into a magical tournament that clearly states you must be 17 to participate.  Harry at this time is only 14.  His name comes out and all of Europe's brightest wizards conclude he just has to compete.  They refer to a "binding magical contract", but where is this contract?  And why can't they just reverse it or change it?  They know magic, don't they?  They have the greatest wizard in Albus Dumbledore presiding over the tournament but not even he can get Harry out of it?  So they let a 14 year old (who only was introduced to the magical world three years prior) compete?  And they allow one of the three schools to have two competitors?  That's like allowing an extra basketball team for the USA in the Olympics.  A real head-shaker here.

- Making the Triwizard cup a portkey--why not something easier?
This has been brought up before.  Why go through all the hassle of A) Getting Harry into the Triwizard Tournament, B) Making sure he does well enough to win and C) Making a valuable object a portkey and making sure Harry gets to it first, when you could just trick him instead?  Seriously.  All Moody/Crouch Jr. had to do was get Harry alone on the grounds, give him a portkey disguised as something non-threatening that Harry would grab (A wizard's card, a quaffle?), and boom, Harry gets transported to the graveyard.  It just seems weird to go to all that trouble. 

Order of the Phoenix
- The Ministry of Magic is mysteriously deserted when Harry and the gang arrive
When Harry and the others (Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna) arrive at the Ministry of Magic to save Sirius, they find it mysteriously deserted.  Absolutely no one there.  You'd think that in such an important place there'd be at least security guards.  This is the equivalent of six American teenagers arriving to the White House and being able to go in and finding absolutely no one inside.  I don't think this was ever explained.  Obviously, it needed to be empty for the plot to continue as it did, but why was it empty?  Why would the Ministry of Magic EVER be empty?

Deathly Hallows
- Voldemort orders Narcissa Malfoy to check if Harry's dead instead of just checking himself
We learned one of two things here.  Either Voldemort is the laziest douchebag in the wizarding world or he trusts all his Death Eaters with ANYTHING.  Voldemort should remember he's a bad guy with bad guy henchmen, and bad guys tend to betray and lie to one another.  Not once did Voldemort check on Harry until Harry finally opened his eyes and began fighting.  I find it hard to believe that Voldemort, being a pretty smart guy, would just assume Harry was dead.  Or even trust a Death Eater.  

So there you have it.  I'd love to be able to ask JK Rowling some of these.  Perhaps some of these WERE answered or explained better in the books, but somehow in my 20 readings of them I missed it.  If you feel the need to explain anything further, be sure to leave a comment. 

My Extensive Super Bowl Prediction

The big game is just three days away, and I am going to make quite a few predictions when it comes to the game.  In fact, I will predict how each quarter goes, who will be the MVP, even what happens at the halftime show.  Some of these predictions might be a bit out there, but others will be spot on. 

Pregame
Alicia Keys has stated she will not sing the traditional version and instead perform it as it were "a brand new song".  This will cause many fans in the Superdome to boo her, mainly those 30 and older.  She won't forget the lyrics, but she will be criticized for her runs and her notes she holds way too long.

Coin Toss
The Ravens are the away team and will call Tails, as ravens have tails.  It will be tails.  Why?  Because I voted for Tails at Papajohns.com.  If I'm right, I win a free pizza.  Who doesn't want free pizza?  Oh, and the Ravens will receive the ball to start the game.

First Quarter
The game will get off to a slow start, scoring wise.  San Francisco has shown in these playoffs to be a team that takes a while to get warmed up.  Neither team will score on its first possession, but Baltimore will get a field goal to make it 3-0.
After 1 Quarter: 3-0 Ravens

Second Quarter
The most exciting play of the first half will happen with an Ed Reed pick six off of Colin Kaepernick, about midway through the 2nd quarter.  However, just before the half, the 49ers drive for a last-second field goal that David Akers does not shank, surprisingly. 
After 2 Quarters: 10-3 Ravens

Halftime
Beyonce will perform, obviously.  Midway through her performance, her husband, rapper Jay-Z, will come on stage and perform.  They will kiss on stage, which will cause a bit of backlash after the game from some pretentious mothers who say the kiss scarred their child. 

Third Quarter
The 49ers receive the ball and drive down the field, but again have to settle for a field goal.  The Ravens score another touchdown after Flacco hooks up with Torrey Smith for a 30-something yard touchdown. 
After 3 Quarters: 17-6, Ravens

Fourth Quarter
With the ball and driving, Colin Kaepernick takes off on a run but gets decked by a Raven (possibly Ray Lewis... my vision is a little cloudy).  He is helped off the field and has to leave the game.  Alex Smith comes into the game, and hooks up with Vernon Davis for a touchdown.   After a back-and-forth possession swing, the 49ers get the ball with 3 minutes left and Alex Smith leads them to a game-winning touchdown (although Gore will score it), proving to be the hero.  The Ravens do get the ball back with less than a minute left, down by 3, but Justin Tucker's 64 yard field goal attempt to tie falls short. 
Final Score: 20-17, 49ers

Super Bowl MVP: Frank Gore, 49ers
Even if Alex Smith takes over, I don't think playing for less than a quarter qualifies for MVP.  Frank Gore will have a decent game and take home MVP honors.  I'll say 105 yards, 1 touchdown. 

Postgame
There are 30+ cameras rolling on the Harbaughs as they shake hands and embrace at midfield.  Jim, the 49ers coach, will finally take off his stupid sharpie necklace and toss it aside, poking Ray Lewis in the eye as he is giving a tearful interview. 

So there you have it.  20-17 49ers is my prediction.  Ray Lewis does not get to retire on a high note, and the 49ers remain perfect in the Super Bowls, getting their 6th ring in their famed history.  

Why the 2012 Seahawks are My Favorite Team Ever

These 2012 Seattle Seahawks are my favorite Seahawks team ever.  They play the game with so much energy, so much fun, and best of all, they are the tightest knit group of Seahawks I've ever seen.  Every game  this year has either been a close game or a Seahawks victory.  They have yet to be blown out.  They are currently perfect at home, with two games left.  And they have managed incredible victories against some very tough teams.  And the best part about it all?  They're young.  This Seahawks team could be very good for a very long time.

One of my favorite things about these Seahawks is that they have characters. They have the 5'10" quarterback who has defied the odds in Russell Wilson.  They have the toughest running back in the league.  They have a very fun-to-watch receiver in Golden Tate.  They have arguably the best defensive backfield in the league, nicknamed the Legion of Boom.  If you ever watched the "Real Rob Report" (Filmed, narrated, and posted by Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson) on YouTube, you would see the Seahawks have some very likeable players.  Here's one of the videos in the season-long series:


But like I said above, these guys are tight-knit, they have fun, and they work hard.  The 2005 Super Bowl-era Seahawks were good too, but they didn't have as many likeable players.  This team is fun to watch and they (more often than not) get the job done.  I give a lot of credit to Pete Carroll and John Schneider who put this team together.  Over the last few years, they have drafted EXTREMELY well, finding a pro bowl cornerback in the 5th round, a talented rookie quarterback in the 3rd, and a talented starting linebacker in the 4th.  There are a lot of players on this team who weren't expected to succeed in the NFL, or they weren't expected to succeed as much as they have been.  Guys like Brandon Browner, Breno Giacomini, and Paul McQuistan all faced difficult odds, but Pete and Co. gave them a chance. 

This team is good now, but they are only going to get better.  There are so many players on this team in their first few years in the league that will hit their primes in the next few seasons.  The Seahawks, I dare say, might have the beginnings of a dynasty.  They have their franchise quarterback.  They have a defense.  They just need these guys to get experience, and they will become one of the best teams in the league year in and year out.  And I can't wait. 

10 Greatest Seahawks Games I’ve Ever Seen

With the Seahawks season in full gear and the team on a bye week, I felt like doing a blog post about the Seahawks.  I want to do a blog post about the ten best and most exciting Seahawks games I’ve ever seen.  Some of these I’ve seen in person, some I have not (I noted each one I have seen in person).  I give extra points for if it’s in the playoffs, or if I saw it, or if it was a dramatic victory.  Final note: I can only include games from my adolescence and onward (2000-present), so these games will be fairly recent in Seahawks history.  In order, the ten best Seahawks games I’ve ever seen are:

10. Super Bowl XL vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Feb. 5, 2006
Seahawks 10, Steelers 21
Ok, I had to put this on the list for a few reasons: 1) It’s the only Super Bowl game in Seahawks history thus far, 2) It was a fairly close game for most of it and 3) It involved a lot of drama and emotion.  In fact, this is the only Seahawks game on here which was a loss for them.  Which is why it’s all the way down at #10.  But until the 4^th quarter, this really was anybody’s game, and had the Seahawks made a few plays that they didn’t (Jackson not pushing off, Stevens not dropping passes, Hasselbeck not throwing the interception), the Seahawks could have been world champs, even with the referees that seemed to be against them. 

9. Browner emerges vs. New York Giants, Oct. 9, 2011
Seahawks 36, Giants 25
This game was known for its dramatics in the 4^th quarter.  The Giants took a 22-19 lead off an incredible one-handed catch 68 yard touchdown by Victor Cruz.  After field goals by both teams to make it 25-22 in favor of the Giants, Doug Baldwin caught a go-ahead touchdown to make it 29-25 Seahawks.  The Giants got the ball back and drove into the Seahawks red zone, but eventual Pro-Bowler Brandon Browner picked off an Eli Manning pass and raced 94 yards for the game-sealing touchdown.  This was one of the most feel-good wins for the Seahawks in the last decade, which is why it makes the list for me.  It was the game in which the Seahawks showed they could play with big boys, even on the road.  The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl five months later.

8. Demolishing the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, Dec. 5, 2005
Seahawks 42, Eagles 0
Granted, the Eagles were starting their backup quarterback in this game, but the Seahawks unloaded on the Eagles on the Eagles’ own turf.  Three defensive scores helped the Seahawks to victory, and I feel this game, more than any other, gave them confidence which propelled them to the Super Bowl, which is why it made the 8 spot on my list.

7. Michael Boulware’s pick six vs. Miami Dolphins, Nov. 21, 2004 (Attended)
Seahawks 24, Dolphins 17
This was a game not many people will remember, but I do.  It was a tight, defensive battle most of the game, although there were a few highlights such as hall of famer Jerry Rice catching his first touchdown as a Seahawk.  But, with the game tied at 17, Seahawks rookie safety Michael Boulware picked off an A.J. Feely pass and ran it 63 yards for a touchdown.  It’s the kind of play you remember for a while, and since I was at that game, it’s on this list. 

6. Big Play Babs sets up win vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct. 23, 2005
Seahawks 13, Cowboys 10
Another defensive struggle, but another dramatic win.  In this game, with it tied at 10, the favored Cowboys were looking to get into field goal range and attempt a game-winning field goal.  However, Jordan “Big Play Babs” Babineaux picked off Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe, returned it 25 yards to set up a long field goal for young kicker Josh Brown.  But Josh made the 50 yarder as time expired, and I gotta say I’ve never seen a kicker so excited. 

5. Simultaneous Possession vs. Green Bay Packers, Sept. 24, 2012
Seahawks 14, Packers 12
The most recent game on this list was certainly important.  The Packers were a season removed from being NFL champions.  It was Monday Night Football.  And, the Seahawks were a resurgent team at home.  The Seahawks totaled 8 sacks of Green Bay, and with the game on the line, down by 5, quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seahawks attempted a Hail Mary pass which was caught by both M.D. Jennings of the Packers and Golden Tate of the Seahawks.  Much controversy has surrounded the call, but outside the controversy, you have to look at this game as one of the best Seahawks games in history. 

4. Wild card win vs. Dallas Cowboys, Jan. 6, 2007
Seahawks 21, Cowboys 20
This game has become known as the “Tony Romo fumble” game in which Romo fumbled the snapped football and caused the Cowboys to not even get a field goal attempt off to take the lead.  The game was exciting and dramatic throughout.  The only thing that would have been better was if it was the Seahawks making a good play to win it, rather than the Cowboys making a bad one to lose it.

3. Shaun Alexander’s 266 yard effort vs. Oakland Raiders, Nov. 11, 2001 (Attended)
Seahawks 34, Raiders 27
This game is at #3 for many reasons.  Sure, it’s not a playoff game, but I was there and saw Shaun rush for a still team record 266 yards against the favored Oakland Raiders on Sunday Night Football at Husky Stadium.  To have Shaun gash them on prime time really started to put the Holmgren-led Seahawks on the map.  There were a ton of Raider fans at the game but they sure left Husky Stadium in a sour mood.  This was also Shaun’s breakout game with Ricky Watters still on the team at the time.

2. NFC Championship win vs. Carolina Panthers, Jan. 22, 2006
Seahawks 34, Panthers 14
This has to be the most important victory in Seahawks history, because it sent them to their very first (and so far only) Super Bowl.  The Seahawks came in as favorites, but not by much.  But they totally controlled the Panthers the entire game.  Afterward, every Seahawk fan felt euphoric: The Seahawks were going to Super Bowl!  Not a game you forget easily. 

1. Beast Mode Run vs. New Orleans Saints, Jan. 8, 2011
Seahawks 41, Saints 36
This was the game that was known for Marshawn Lynch’s “Beast mode” run or his “Beastquake” as it rocked Century Link Field.  The defending world champion Saints were heavily favored on the road against the first team to make the playoffs with a losing record.  But the Seahawks showed they deserved to be there.  The Seahawks led 34-30 in the 4^th when Marshawn Lynch broke off the most famous run (if not play) in Seahawks history.  Seahawks ended up winning 41-36.  They lost next week to the Bears, but this game really put the Pete Caroll-led Seahawks on the map.  

Why Google and YouTube Suck

If you haven’t heard, Google and YouTube are one in the same.  Google owns YouTube, so any problems you have with YouTube go straight to Google.  I’m here to say I have a beef with both of them.  I’m tired of their browser, their video website which is becoming exponentially harder to use, and the search engine I haven’t regularly used in five years (and whenever I do, it gives me headaches). 

I used to be an avid user of Internet Explorer.  Then people started complaining and switching over to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, but I wasn’t one of them—at first.  However, I encountered a game on Facebook not too long ago called Café World which suggested that I use a different browser because apparently IE couldn’t handle it.  So I switched to Chrome.  And honestly, I liked Chrome.  For a few years, Chrome and I got along together swimmingly.  Until I got problems.  First off, I have had major issues with playing flash type videos on Chrome: From videos on YouTube (ironic?), ESPN videos on their website, and even simple GIF animations.  They constantly would cause my browser to crash.  It hasn’t happened as much recently, but I still get it every now and then.  The second problem I’ve had involves switching tabs.  For the past few months, about half the time when I switch a tab, it either displays the window of a tab I had previously closed or it displays the tab I was trying to swtich from.  I have to switch to another tab and back in order to fix it.  It’s extremely annoying.  And because of what this one browser has cost me, I am switching back to Internet Explorer.

Apparently, Internet Explorer has gotten a lot better.  They even created a website for the campaign (http://browseryoulovedtohate.com/).  That’s right.  “The Browser You LoveD to Hate.”  I bolded and capitalized the D in loved because apparently we don’t love to hate it anymore.  Maybe we hate hating it now?  That aside, I am giving IE another chance.  Google Chrome pushed me too far, so I’m going to see if IE can do enough to pull me back in. 

So Chrome hasn’t been kind to me.  What about YouTube?  Well, almost a year ago now they changed their YouTube homepage layout.  What used to look like this:

Now looks like this:



There are pros and cons to each, but what really irked me was that they made it virtually impossible to “X” out any videos we didn’t want to watch.  Isn’t the point of a website to make it MORE user-friendly as time goes on?  Also, I recently have discovered there is no way to share a private video with someone anymore.  If anyone knows how to, please let me know.  They say on this support page: http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=157177  that “you'll see a section to enter up to 50 YouTube usernames that will have access to your private video.” Well, that section is no longer there.  Let’s not forget the increasing number of advertisements on videos.  It seems like 1 out of every 2 videos I watch has an advertisement at the start.  What happened to only having ads to the side?  That was perfect.  It was yet another instance of a company sacrificing a customer’s convenience for money.  The problem with MY PROBLEMS with YouTube is that I don’t have another site to go to.  YouTube really does not have any competition out there.  But hey, if you’re reading this and happen to know of a site that has potential to take on YouTube, let me know, okay?

Finally, I must talk about the thing that started it all, Google’s search engine.  I’ll give them props, it’s a very good search engine.  It’s just not for me.  I really believe that Bing is just as good (if not better) of a search engine than Google.  There’s a blind test you can take (http://www.bingiton.com) and every time I’ve taken it, I’ve preferred Bing as much or more than Google.  Take the test for yourself.  Bing’s layouts on their search displays are much more user-friendly and more organized.  Google to me is too bland, too boring, and frankly, I prefer the results I get from Bing more than I do Google. 

So Google/YouTube, I still may have an account with you, but you’re not getting much else with me.  Forget about me going on Google+.  Forget about me using Google as my regular search engine.  And now you can forget about me using Google Chrome anymore.  You may be part of the most popular websites out there, but I see right through you.   So long, it’s been a real headache.

Funny thing is, this was uploaded to Blogger, which is owned and run by Google.  I don't really think you guys suck. :) 

My Thoughts on the Seahawks Controversial Catch and the Replacement Officials

Wow.  What a finish.  I cannot believe what I witnessed.  I feel like I am dreaming and that I am going to wake up soon.  I will discuss the final play and replay officials only in this.  The game was amazing and the fact we even had a chance to win it in such a fashion is incredible.  But the final play decided the game.  You never want to see a referee’s call decide a game, but that’s what it came down to.

First off, my initial reaction.  My very first thought watching the play live was that it was a simultaneous catch.  I’ve seen a few of them in the NFL, so I know how the rules go.  What I saw was Jennings in better position but Golden Tate catching the ball NEARLY simultaneously as they fell to the ground.  The rule states that whoever gets control of the ball first is the one who gets the ball for their team.  That, in my opinion regarding to this catch, is up for debate.  Tons of receivers can control balls with one hand, plus Golden did in fact get his arm underneath M.D. Jennings’.  Now, if the catch is simultaneous, the tie goes to the offense, which is what was ruled.

People are going to say this was one of the worst calls in NFL history.  I don’t think it was.  Was it absolutely clear cut that M.D. Jennings intercepted the ball?  No!  Was it a good call?  I don’t think that, either.  I think it was a call that 4 out of every 5 referees would make in favor of the Packers, but we got the 1 that made the call in favor of the Seahawks.  It’s a closer play than people realize. 

As for the replacement officials, I just feel bad for them.  Refereeing an NFL game has got to be so hard to do both physically and mentally.  They were thrust into this essentially new game where calls have to be made even quicker.  They are doing their best, but it’s not up to par as to what we’re used to.  I still blame the NFL for not having better prepared officials in case of a lockout.  But if there ever is another lockout, this sure taught them a lesson. 

To summarize, the call could have gone either way, and maybe home field advantage influenced the officials.  I do believe Golden Tate had partial control of the ball.  I do believe that if you watch the replay, by the time M.D. Jennings has full control of the ball, that Golden Tate has it in his arms as well, which could be ruled as control as well.  I agree with everyone else, however.  These replacement refs need to go.  They are leaving a bad taste in the fans mouths, they are ruining the integrity of the game, and frankly they are making the game a lot less fun to watch.  Imagine if they have to stay the entire season and *GULP* the postseason and Super Bowl.  Fans of the 31 other teams that didn’t win the Super Bowl would argue that the season was tainted by the replacement officials and that the championship is not deserved.  They still might if the NFL doesn’t fix this thing fast.

Top 10 Movies that Should Exist

I thought it would be fun to do a Top 10 list of movies that don’t exist, but I feel that should.  Some day perhaps a few of these will get made.  If so, I’ll try to update on here if they are.  Now quite a few of these are based on video games, but if you know me, you know I play a lot of video games.  Anyway, here is my Top 10 Movies that Should Exist:

10. Call of Duty Modern Warfare Movie
I have this only at number 10 because I’m not a huge fan of Call of Duty, but the campaign mode of the game had a pretty good story.  It’s pretty much WWIII and it involves Russia.  If you’ve played the Modern Warfare series before, imagine the “No Russian” mission as a movie scene.  Yeah.  I’d also love to see who they cast as Yuri, Soap, and Captain Price.



9. Duma Key
I have to admit, at the time of writing this, I haven’t even finished the book.  But I’m hooked.  It’s a novel by Stephen King about a man named Edgar Freemantle who has lost his right arm, and he goes to this place (called Duma Key—sort of like a resort for the wounded) and he meets this guy named Wireman and an old lady named Elizabeth Eastlake.  And some pretty freaky stuff happens as usual for a Stephen King novel.  I was thinking George Clooney could play the lead role.

8. The Million Dollar Shot
I have looked and looked but there is not even a movie close to this out there, which really surprises me.  Basically, a poor 12 year-old boy wins the opportunity of a lifetime by getting to shoot a free throw shot for a million dollars.  It’s a great story, written by Dan Gutman and I really see this as a quality film. It's a short book as well, but that doesn't mean it can't be expanded or added on to.

7. Gears of War
Gears of War is a video game series by Epic Games which doesn’t even take place on Earth, but on the fictitious planet of Sera.  It involves these Serans (or humans) that have to battle enemy locusts (not the insect) and lambent.  Not many movies are set on fictitious planets.  There’s been rumor of a GoW movie but nothing has been confirmed yet.




6. X: A Fabulous Child’s Story
Here’s a movie that’s never been made: A couple has a baby, but a group of researchers pay them big bucks to raise the child—completely genderless.  This child goes through infancy and being a toddler without a gender.  In the story written by Lois Gold a family names their child “X”, although perhaps they could give it a gender neutral name like Pat or Jamie.  But this would be a good movie to teach people a lot of lessons. 

5. A Beatles Movie
There really needs to be a movie that chronicles the lives of the four Beatles: John, Paul, George, and Ringo.  We see how the band is formed and see their success and then their downfall.  They are the greatest band of all time and there’s plenty of drama to work with (Thanks Yoko).  Just please… PLEASE… don’t cast ANY of the members of One Direction.

4. The story of the 1995 Seattle Mariners (Titled “My Oh My!”)
I may be biased, but I believe the story of the 1995 Seattle Mariners is one of the best in sports history.  Nineteen years without as much of a sniff of the playoffs, and BOOM!  1995 happened!  This will probably never get made, but I do think it would make a great film.  I also want to see Jack Black play Lou Piniella—their resemblance is uncanny.

3. Bad Twin
My favorite mystery novel of all time.  Basically, a hired detective tries to find a guy’s twin brother, going to various ends of the world.  It’s a story within a story (In fact the only reason it was written was because it was mentioned in the TV show LOST).  This also will probably never be made, but I’d love to see it; it's got a great story, characters, and the suspense at times is really good.

2. Some Expanded Universe Star Wars movie (Knights of the Old Republic, Jedi Knight, The Force Unleashed)
After the release of Star Wars Episode III in 2005, I was really hoping for just one more Star Wars movie, even if it wasn’t exactly connected to the two current trilogies.  But as of 2012, nothing has happened.  There was a small rumor of a third trilogy, a sequel trilogy being episodes VII, VIII, and IX, but George Lucas squashed that almost immediately.  I already put forth some video games (each of which have at least 2 in their series) that I think would make great movies.  I don’t care if it’s not connected to the current two trilogies we have, just make more Star Wars movies with lightsabers and stuff!

1. Halo
Seriously, will Halo ever be made?  It’s been talked about for at least five years, yet nothing has happened.  Peter Jackson was once attached to a Halo movie, but then he dropped out.  Halo isn’t the best video game series to be made into a movie, but with how imaginative and original it is, SOMETHING has to be made from it in terms of a show or movie.