The end of life as I know it (a.k.a the end of Harry Potter)



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SPOILER ALERT: This entry is about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. If you haven't read the books or seen the movie, stop reading now please.  I will be going into an in depth discussion about the entire story.

After all the buildup and anticipation, I think I am probably going to disappoint with this blog entry about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.  You see, I've never liked the Harry Potter movies as much as I have liked (loved) the books.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE all of the movies for what they are -  but I am flat out obsessed  with the Harry Potter books, to the point where I start crying or laughing or breathing heavy (from fear) just thinking of them.   So here is a pre-summary, and then you can decide if you'd like to continue reading this entry or not:  As a movie, HPDH Part II was absolutely phenomenal, but in comparison to the book it just didn't match up.  So there you go, a brief summary.  Now let me explain in more detail.

I remember first purchasing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Borders in New York City in the summer of 2007 the very day it came out, as was my tradition.  It was a Friday, I believe, and right at the tale end of my time in the Samsung Fresh Films competition.  My teammates were a bunch of fellow Harry Potter fanatics, and I remember Saturday being a difficult day to get any work done knowing that there was a big fat piece of literature bursting at the seams with unbelievable new adventures waiting for me in my hotel room.  I had been waiting two years for this book, after all, and I didn't feel like waiting one more day to read it.  I was thirsty for it right then. Somehow I made it through the day, and couldn't get back to the room fast enough to start reading.  The next few days went by in a flash, and I was hardly aware of what was happening around me.  I constantly had my head buried in my book, but somehow managed to make it home from NYC, and plop myself down in my room for the next three days.  As usual, I only left my room for the bathroom and food. 

It felt like I couldn't read fast enough. SO much was happening.  (Here come the spoilers so you better stop now if you don't want to know more!  I'm serious. If you have never read the books for the love of GOD do not read any more of this entry.)  Hedwig's was the first death, and I actually had to put the book down for a little while to recover.  Next came Mad-Eye which for some reason was easier for me to cope with.  But that was only the beginning.  The entire 7th book was an emotional roller coaster for me, right up until the very end where my uncontrollable sobbing at 3 am woke my mother up.  When I finished the last Harry Potter book (it is still hard for me to type that phrase) it felt like the end of my life.  I am extremely over dramatic when it comes to Harry Potter. I didn't know what my life would be like without a new book to anticipate every couple of years.  At least then I still had the movies to look forward to, like a small glimmer of hope in my ever-so dismal future.  Now, even that part of my life is over.  But let's not dwell on that right now. 

In stark contrast to the emotional roller coaster of the books, I felt that the very final installment in the Harry Potter movie series managed to only invoke one emotion in the audience: excitement.  Well, whats wrong with excitement?  Nothing, really.  I just think there was the potential for a lot more than just one real emotion in a movie that was based on a book that had literally covered every emotion on the spectrum.  I went into the theater for the midnight premier with half a box of tissues stuffed in my purse, and actually never had to take any out.  Don't get me wrong, I definitely cried.  I just didn't cry nearly as much as I had anticipated.  The parts of the book that really got to me failed to spark much of a reaction from me in the movie.  For example, when Harry is on his way to face Voldermort and "die," I could barely continue reading the book.  Seeing him say goodbye to his best friends who had been with him through EVERYTHING, then finding the stone in the snitch that brought back the ghosts of his loved ones, and then Hagrid carrying Harry's lifeless body all the way back to Hogwarts - all of it bombarded my brain and forced every tear out of my eye balls.  In the movie I cried for a different reason towards the end.  I was more upset that this was it, that it was over, that there would be no more Harry Ron and Hermione in my life.

I feel that the first and second parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows just brushed over events from the story that I would rather have had them focus on a bit longer. In particular they really brushed over the deaths during the final battle - Tonks, Lupin, Fred, Snape, Colin Crevey (did they even show it? I don't remember.) The list goes on and on.  They only zoomed in on the bodies of the dead for a few seconds, show a bit of the Weasleys crying, and thats it.  I mean I guess they shouldn't dwell on it for too long, but a littler longer than what they did would have been much appreciated.  I needed more time to process.  I'm crazy.  It's ok.

On a positive note: I saw the movie in 3D which was the absolute coolest thing ever.  First of all, the 3D glasses were Harry's glasses!!!!!!!! Best idea ever.  Second of all it was such a cool experience in that it wasn't the kind of in-your-face 3D that gives you a headache and makes you motion sick.  Rather than making the film seem chaotic and crazy, it enhanced the movie, making it more exciting and enjoyable.  The best part was towards the beginning where it is slowly zooming in on Hogwarts and it is surrounded by dementors.  As the camera gets closer it's like the dementors are floating over the audience all over the theater.  Sooo awesome.  I loved it.
 

Anyway, that's really all I have to say about the end of my childhood.  If anyone has anything else they'd like to discuss, please leave comments!!!!!

Coming up next:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I'm in the middle of this book right now and it is absolutely fabulous, I can't put it down.  I'm off to read! Enjoy the preview:

now go read the book!






P.S. for an entry that focuses more on the movie (rather than a comparison) check out my other blog! http://jilltalksmovies.blogspot.com/