I must have a look at the third film in the Potter series. Both for it being darker and being directed by the guy who did Children of Men, which I watched again recently and found it again to be one of the better science fiction films made in the last few decades.

As for HP, I didn't like the first movie either, but it does shift a gear as they get older. The third one was especially dark and directed by Alfonso Cuarón who made Children of Men.
Like everything else these days, the series went on too long.
Just heard that Jackson is making 3 Hobbit films now. I think that's a mistake.

Of other hyped books, I might eventually read a Harry Potter novel, but I didn't think much of the first film and have not watched any of the others. I might eventually read a Hunger Games novel, as it does have science fiction elements.

Interesting how Dan Brown seems to have drifted off into obscurity.

I'm writing about too much sex at the moment. I have no problem tackling it, but sometimes I disturb myself.

Interesting re Freedom. Life imitating art? Why not? It happens all the time.