Hi! I'm waiting for my chance to snag an early look at the brilliant JKR's Pottermore, and since I'll likely be up for a while, I thought I'd get you all in the spirit by bashing the latest Potter movie. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the books or seen the latest movie, I suggest you get that done quickly. Like, NOW. Before I sic the dementors on you.
I think that Deathly Hallows, Parts I and II, weren't bad, all things considered. I mean, look at how they screwed up OotP and HBP. I don't think I'll ever get over the Snape scenes they cut out of the sixth movie. My point is, up until the last two movies, with a few exceptions, these wretched Warner Bros have been chopping up Rowling's babies to bits! But they didn't goof up the last two movies, for which I'm sure we are all eternally grateful. It was a wonderful way to round off the franchise and help me cope with my Post-Potter Depression. (This, coupled with Pottermore, should have me cured before Thanksgiving at the earliest, and after Christmas at the latest.)
I liked the beginning of Pt. One, which showed the trio making their various preparations to leave on their hunt for Horcruxes. Seeing Hermione fading from her own pictures totally hit home. Then there was the bit with the seven Harry's, which was hysterical. (It was a bit disturbing to see Dan Radcliffe in Fleur's dainty lingerie...) I personally think that Hedwig giving Harry away made a bit more sense than all that about Harry mercifully disarming Stan Shupike rather than sending him to an untimely death. (I had to reread that part when I first got the book in seventh grade. I think Lupin needed to pull the stick out of his hairy hindquarters on that one.)
So, then comes the good-morning kiss between Harry and Ginny, which I was a little disappointed at. Even though seeing Georgie with that ridiculous toothbrush sticking out of his ear was a laugh, I like Ron's blind rage and total tactlessness about the situation. I know that Ron and Harry were yelling at each other in that part of the book, but I couldn't help thinking it was a tiny bit funny.
Then the wedding. I wish Muriel was more drunk, but I think Luna's lines were brilliant. Of course, I am slightly biased, Luna's in my Top Five Best Characters EVER list.... But so what?
Was I the only one who did a double take when they changed Totenham Court Road to Strausbury Avenue, or am I just picky? Never mind, though, the rest of the movie, which I won't drag you through play-by-play, was relatively close to the book, with a couple of changes. I could at least see the reasoning behind those changes, and they were so minor that they weren't a big deal. I must say, the BEST part of Pt. I is the reunion between Ron and Hermione. I'm definitely going to play that one over and over when I get around to buying the DH movies.
Pt. 2 was sort of like a school pep rally, with everyone cheering and laughing, and bursting into applause at all the right moments. By then, the theatre was so filled with a buzz of energetic unity that I felt like I was at home in the Gryffindor Common Room after kicking the Slytherin's sorry butts at a Quidditch match.
For those of you who haven't heard the Trivia Game Anecdote from my mom, I'll tell you now. The theatre people were giving away prizes to those who were most knowledgeable of Pottermania. I kept not winning and not winning, and then they asked when Hermione's birthday was.
I, naturally, leaped to my feet at lightening speed and began bouncing like a Mexican Jumping Bean. I was the only one in the entire theatre, out of 450-some-odd people, who knew Hermione's birthday was September 19, 1979. My prize? Oh, just an official, legit replica of Hermione's wand, that's all!! Those suckers were fifty dead presidents at Universal last year, and I got one just because I remembered somebody's birthday. I guess you could call it my proverbial Klondike Bar Moment. hee hee....
As for actually settling down to Pt. 2... well, I was a happy camper. I felt like a house-elf with a minicam sitting on Harry's shoulder (in the words of John Granger, not me). It was great, even though it was repeat for me, since I spent the months waiting for the Hallows movies by rereading Book Seven in an endless refrain until I had it somewhat memorized. I figured that the dragon scene would be mediocre at best, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. The commercials were fairly misleading on that score.
I thought that Helena Bonham-Carter's performance as Hermione pretending to be Bellatrix was absolutely brilliant. All the Polyjuice scenes in these two movies have been great. Once the trio pulled out of Gringotts and made it to Hogsmeade, I was gearing up for Aberforth's soliloquy and was slightly disarmed when Dumbledore's past was not divulged, in full detail, by the old goat-lover. I suppose now, though, that it makes sense. If you are too lazy to read what happens to Dumbledore, than you are content to be ignorant, and that is ultimately your prerogative.
I loved every minute of the D.A.'s antics and the Battle of Hogwarts itself. Ginny bolting into the Room of Requirement for example. Ron says, "I haven't seen her in six months, and you'd think I was Frankie First Year!" to which Seamus replies, "...there's only one Harry." (My mom's favorite part, naturally. She ships Harry/Ginny all the way, with the same ruthless and hardcore devotion that some people show to football teams.) Personally, though, my favorite part is when Neville is asking if they actually have permission to blow up the bridge, and Maggie Smith nods and says, "Yes. Boom!" That was awesome! I mean, it isn't something McGonagall would actually say, except in this dire moment of crisis. I think she's actually enjoying this little attempt to defend the school, and I think she's channeling all her pent-up anger at Snape into having some fun with the D.A.'s chaotic tendencies. I went home and reread parts of the battle specifically after that, seeing the whole thing with new eyes.
And it wasn't just McGonagall who was a little out of character that night. Snape's death actually pulled a couple tears from my eyes, Neville's heroics had me beaming with Gryffindor pride, and Luna's sudden assertive outburst ("Harry Potter, you listen to me!") had several people on their feet, clapping and cheering. (Yes, I was one of them...). I was also impressed by the way the portrayed Voldemort's disembodied voice booming over the campus, as though its sound brought actual physical pain and emotional panic to the students. It is pretty morbid, but interesting, and it emphasizes just how evil Voldy-poo is to those who haven't read the books.
Snape's death and his memories were incredibly touching, and though I missed most of the Resurrection Stone scene in a mad dash to the bathroom, Mom gave me enough of the details later that I was sufficiently satisfied with that.
What I was incredibly disappointed with was the King's Cross scene- and NO, you perves, not because Dan wasn't naked! Dumbledore remained maddeningly vague, while in the book he gave Harry the straight dope. (I was just as peeved at Dumbles as Harry was when that part came round. I mean, you couldn't tell him all that stuff while both of you were alive and in your study with the comfy chairs?? You just had to wait until you were both safely dead, didn't you!) But all in all, the end was essentially the same, although it left out enough details that people who haven't read the books will be able to read them with a few surprises still left.
So, I guess that's Harry done with- for now, anyway. I don't know about you, but I'm constantly rereading the stories. The funny bits still make me laugh, the deaths still tug at my heart strings and tear ducts, and the story still leaves me gasping and smacking my forehead, right along with Harry and the gang. Harry has been a huge part of my childhood, and will always be part of my life. I think we all owe JKR a HUGE thank you, and maybe a Hagrid-sized hug, for providing us with an escape from our problems in the form of a castle where wonderful things happen and a bespectacled boy who lived in a cupboard and has a funny cut on his head.
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