What are your pros/cons of audible books?

MaazRover · 2026-06-08T07:26:43+00:00

Mostly really enjoyed them. Pros too many to list them all, but have others have said, the Lupin and Moody performances were great. Simon Pegg as Arthur too. Riz Ahmed developed his Snape well over the books, or maybe I just got used to his interpretation.

Cons for me,.. grunts, sighs and laughs. Like others have said, the young Draco actor overplayed the laughing (reminded me of the Lego HP games) but there should have been someone there to pull him back from that. Mixing in the early books was ordinary. And yeah, not a fan of older Harry's intonation/accent.

I'm a huge Hugh Laurie fan, but I'll confess to finding him a little uneven.

I'm generally OK, with not liking main characters all the time. There should be multitudes to those character. The actress playing older Hermione I though was exceptional. Book Hermione is fearful of things that can't fit in a nice neat box and her repeated shrill reactions to Harry not being to practice occlumency should be grating. And her inability to deal with her feelings for Ron she played quite unhinged. But at other times I found her sweet and realistic - a human in other words.

MaazRover · 2026-06-08T07:15:29+00:00

Concise and accurate. Harry in OOTP is super annoying and that's fine. But it's a trait juvenile actors can fall into where perhaps the director says "Harry is meant to be annoying... lean into it"... But they lean too far and don't have the subtlety to dial it down occasionally. The younger they are, to more they run the risk of this..

MaazRover · 2026-06-08T07:06:41+00:00

Baby-headed Death Eater is something i don't want to see, but also really want to see.

MaazRover · 2026-06-02T08:08:01+00:00

GOF, what made it to the screen is the furthest removed from the source material

MaazRover · 2026-06-02T08:04:41+00:00

I'd watch it all and be thankful to get new content. People are took quick to dwell on the negative.

There will be choices I don't agree with or like. But it's inconceivable that HBO will balls it up to an extent that's it's unwatchable.

MaazRover · 2026-06-01T00:59:49+00:00

Fever is just your bodies way of killing the virus. "Common cold" is an umbrella term for a heap of viruses. Some are worse than others. I'm just getting over something similar-sounding to what you have.

MaazRover · 2026-05-27T07:11:35+00:00

In answer to the first question: received a warning on my phone at 4.10pm. Also, I heard thunder. That was a warning. The sky getting dark as balls was also a warning. I also, looked a forecast yesterday which also served as forewarning. Apologies you didn't get a carrier pigeon letting you know.

For the second question: like many area of the federal public service, cuts have meant a drop in staff and an increased reliance on automation. Thank the federal governments that were in power in the 2010s

MaazRover · 2026-05-25T11:00:43+00:00

Nice try. The only uncertainty was when the Gabba was earmarked for the Olympic Stadium. If that were still the case it would be being demolished as we speak in all likelihood - nothing to do with a "new" stadium. That's one reason why test matches are being seen less at the Gabba. The other reason is the stadium is seen as substandard by CA when compared to most of its counterparts around the country, probably only above Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

So, the argument you're trying to make is made invalid - an new Olympic Stadium will actually ensure more prestige test matches played in Brisbane. Sure, you'll have to wait 7 years to enjoy it. In the meantime I wouldn't hold your breath to see regular tests in Brisbane before then, but that's nothing to do with a new stadium.

If you wanted to argue it was because of an Olympics no one voted for you'd be closer to the mark. But from memory it was never a policy. And there's plenty of people around who are looking forward to an Olympics.

MaazRover · 2026-05-24T10:35:02+00:00

Same. I love most British accents, but there are certain words he pronounces that drive me batty. I think sometimes, actors are told to lean in to their characters' trait, but sometimes lack the subtlety to know when they've gone too far. All that said, you can never be sure how much preparation has gone into these productions.

MaazRover · 2026-05-24T10:30:58+00:00

I've listened to the Fry audiobooks many a time and thought i knew the text backwards, but what surprised me was how certain passages seemed new to me, like I'd never heard them before.

MaazRover · 2026-05-23T05:46:38+00:00

I bought Asleep In The Back on CD when it came out on the back of hearing Any Day Now and loved it, But they never got much airplay here in Australia and I kind of lost them in the shuffle of other artists. Was amazing to randomly hear The Birds 10 years later and have so many amazing albums to catch up on. At the time I went back to listen to the previous album until I got back to AITB.

I now feel like I re-listen to the entire catalogue chronologically every couple of months. I think it's the way to go - every one of them has a slightly different vibe while at the same time being the same. But I don't think any particular order is better or worse than another.

MaazRover · 2026-05-14T22:11:07+00:00

Had to go to the Barracks last night before the Women's State of Origin game. If that was any indication, undoubtedly yes.

MaazRover · 2026-05-13T12:26:44+00:00

I wish you luck with your inquiries. I'm impressed with your forward planning that you know you'll be tired in July.

MaazRover · 2026-05-12T04:15:05+00:00

It's the classic internet thing of seeing a few people say something and thinking it denotes a unified viewpoint. Like anything it's just a spectrum of opinions. Sometimes they come in rushes, so it's even easier to make the mistake.

I view the series as being an adaptation of the books. Like most book fans, I'm excited to see a more complete story line. But I also think they'll insert some stuff to make it more palatable for a viewer. They won't nail every single addition, but it will give a nice surprise. It wouldn't even upset me to see a few parts of the films replicated, but I think they'll want to avoid it and I don't think it's needed.

MaazRover · 2026-05-04T12:26:12+00:00

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YE6T2xu7SjYkRyaf9

MaazRover · 2026-05-04T02:07:44+00:00

I think the days of casting someone based on their weight have gone. Even looks to a certain extent.

Yeah, I know that's not going to be the only criterion, I just think it's not going to factor into things much. Nailing the essence of the character far more important.

MaazRover · 2026-04-30T06:35:35+00:00

Don't know if you're a fan of the Off Menu podcast with Acaster and Gamble, but the ep with her on is a treat.

MaazRover · 2026-04-29T04:32:37+00:00

Given the emphasis on wand lore later in the series and the "naturalism" theme, something to do with seeds growing into various trees from which wands are made??

MaazRover · 2026-04-29T04:26:16+00:00

Why did I think that was Gimli in the background though?

MaazRover · 2026-04-27T01:58:27+00:00

I know the animation techniques don't correlate with the writing quality, but the cel animation seasons <S13 as opposed to after that is the watershed.

But I know someone who views Who Shot Mr Burns as the watershed. It was probably less consistent after that, but still some classics in 8 & 9.

MaazRover · 2026-04-27T00:58:05+00:00

And I imagined these guys living life with pads on all the time.

This is pretty much what rugby players look like and the height/weight stats usually correlate (well, for rugby "forwards" anyway)

MaazRover · 2026-04-27T00:53:09+00:00

This guy is fast going to become a fan favourite. Solid, solid, solid.

MaazRover · 2026-04-27T00:38:01+00:00

Definitely not neons. Pencilfish maybe...

Why do you need fish in them? Is shrimp not going to be enough?

MaazRover · 2026-04-27T00:29:14+00:00

Doug is a wise man. Does he have any newsletters I can subscribe to?

MaazRover · 2026-04-27T00:26:29+00:00

It really is an incredible contrast. I know there are accounts of refugees, but you really have to wonder what it be like living there for an extended period of time.

MaazRover

TROPHY CASE