I went and saw the final film the day it opened, sadly missing the midnight screening in order to see it with a large group of friends. On Friday, July 15th at 8:30pm we walked into the Arclight Sherman Oaks in our Hogwarts best for the last time. We had a collection of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin among our group all bound together by the love of these characters and stories. Most of us had read the books so know the ending, but were no less excited then the fans of the films who were in anticipation of what was to come for Harry and Voldermort. How it would all end. The book fans have a different experience then teh movie fans. We go not to find out what happens next or how it ends but to see the books we grew to love over so many years come to life. We come to hear Mrs. Weasley scream "Not my daughter you Bitch!" to Bellatrix Lestrange before smacking her with a certain little unforgivable curse! Or to see Neville Longbottom pull the sword of Gryffindor from the sorting hat as he stands up to Voldermort and finally slices Nagini's head right off!
For the fans of the movies only, I can see how this film may not hold up to the others since it is not its own stand alone movie... it the the end of the first part of The Deathly Hallows. There is no beginning, middle and end... it is just a 2 hour long end. When reading the book so many emotions surge through you that I don't think the film was able to capture. What we have to think about is the Hogwarts battle. This battle is deatheaters verus a bunch of KIDS and a handful of adults. First years to seventh years (11-17 years old) all just kids. Willing to fight and die for what they believe in. And die they do... characters we knew, some we didn't. Characters we loved, some that annoyed us. To me these charcters are the bravest characters I have ever read and I cried from beginning to end when reading the book. Tears trickled down my face for Fred, Lupin, Tonks, their unborn child, Lavendar, Snape and Harry... but nothing compared to the heartbreak that came when reading.
I don't think I will ever love a world of magic as much as I loved Harry Potter's world. I hope Albus Severus Potter is doing well at Hogwarts! Maybe he can go on some adventures for us one day!
Here's to Harry...
After watching the new trailer for The Amazing Spiderman a discussion of our favorite superheroes got brought up in the office...
