A Few of My Favorite Things

There are a few things in life that I really love.  The gospel of Jesus Christ.  Europe.  U2.  Roses.  The ocean.  Harry Potter.

Yes, I'm going to write about Harry again.  You don't have to read this, but it really is important to me, and I don't really write for anyone else's benefit . . . I guess I'm just hoping to find some kindred spirits and open some eyes.

Let me start by saying that I believe things are popular for a reason: they are good.  There are some exceptions (hem, hem, Britney Spears), but in general I think most people don't pay a lot of attention to books/movies/music that are bad.  Sure, the inner rebel in me doesn't want to follow the crowd, to be the only one who really appreciates something, but another part of me is glad that so many people have discovered the same things I have.  The latter part of my little heart is swollen tonight: I'm definitely not alone in my love for all things Harry Potter.

I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) this evening.   It was bittersweet.  I had a terrible seat, the theater was hot and crowded, and through most of the show I really had to pee, but I couldn't tear my eyes away.  Like many of you, I have been waiting for this for years, and I have read all the books, and I can't wait to make a pilgrimage to Orlando.  So I was very excited to see it, and I even allowed myself to cry.  Anyone who really knows me knows that I never cry during movies (especially at the theater); I'm pretty good at recognizing Hollywood's attempts to manipulate my emotions, so I can turn it off.  Harry is different.  I have spent so much time with these characters, reading about them, watching them grow up through the movies, even writing the occasional short story about them (don't ask), that I feel like I know them.  I have read the entire series several times, and I know I will read them all again in the future.  Why?  Harry, Ron and Hermione feel like old friends to me.  I want to check in on them every so often.  I want to get back into the story and laugh and cry and feel with them.  I want to remember why I fell in love with them, and do it all over again.

I love the books, especially Deathly Hallows.  Jo Rowling is an incredible writer, with an amazing imagination.  I marvel at the things she came up with, and how she is able to transport readers of so many ages and backgrounds into a different, beautiful, magical world.  And she did it so well, I'm sure the producers and directors of the movies had a very difficult time putting so many rich details into a 2.5 hour movie.  I know they had to make tough decisions on what to put in and what to leave out, and I know so little about movie making that I can't judge those choices as a critic.  All I can do is write about things I liked and things I didn't like.  It won't change anything, but it will clear my mind.  If it interests you, read on.  If not, no hard feelings, though I hope you'll give it a chance.

Ah, what the heck--let's go with pros and cons (again).  It's easier to write, and I'm really tired right now.

Pro: Cinematography.  The movie was visually stunning, and I couldn't tell where there were obvious green screens used.  They did a phenomenal job putting the audience into the magical world.  The spells effects were awesome; they helped me feel the power of the magic.  Watching Hogwarts be destroyed, seeing so many friends fighting for a greater cause, feeling Harry struggle to fulfill his destiny . . . it was all very emotional for me. I'm glad they jumped off the 3D bandwagon--it didn't need it.

Con:  The only obvious computer effect that bothered me was in Snape's memories.  I think they should have used another actor and some makeup.  I adore Alan Rickman, and I don't know that another actor could have made that scene as powerful as it was, but the image manipulation was a little too obvious for my taste.

Pro:  The music was hauntingly beautiful, and I think Alexandre Desplat was the perfect person to do it.  It's nothing against John Williams; his scores were wonderful for the first few films, but as Harry's journey goes deeper into the darkness, the cheerful and predictable themes just weren't appropriate anymore.

Con:  Screenwriting.  I wish they had been a bit more true to the book, though I'm sure it was a painful process of cutting and editing while trying to get the general story correct.

Pro:  Cast.  I love that nearly the entire cast stuck it through together.  It makes the movie that much more powerful, associating specific actors with certain characters, and having seen these kids grow up before your eyes.  It's like visiting old friends.  I love it.

Con:  Things they left out: any kind of planning by Harry and company; any fighting by elves and other friends in the battle (I wish that Kreacher, Grawp and others had been there to fight, even though S.P.E.W. was never mentioned in the movies), the battle on the field, the final scene in the Headmaster's office, where Harry gets to speak to Dumbledore (and get his wand back).  Remus's visit to Shell Cottage and making Harry godfather to his son.  I especially missed Harry and Voldemort's final talk--there was much more emotion in the book, with Harry explaining to "Tom" how love would be his downfall, his explaining to him how Harry's love protected his friends.  The film had much more physical fighting.  Again--that was visually stunning, but still less powerful to me than the words.

Pro:  Things they did well.  Gringotts, with the dragon and the cups in the vault.  Helena Bonham-Carter playing Hermione playing Bellatrix--fantastic.  The final scene at platform 9 3/4.  The Room of Requirement.  The Grey Lady.  Aberforth (who looked a lot like Dumbledore).  Kings Cross.  Creation and destruction of the shield around Hogwarts.  All pretty faithful, and receiving the oh-so-important Mary-Stamp-of-Approval.

Con:  Things they changed that I didn't like: Ron and Hermione's first kiss in the Chamber of Secrets.  Nothing like destroying a bit of someone's soul to make you want to snog your best friend, eh?  Also, the special-guest-appearances: there are cameos of some people, like Percy and Arthur Weasley.  Even the twins had less 10 words between them.  The thing that bothers me the most is the near-absence of Harry's invisibility cloak.  It plays such a huge role in the books, and the only time you see it in the course of the last several movies is at Gringotts.  Also, Harry's breaking the Elder Wand.  Yeah, that's symbolic, but kind-of disrespectful too.   

Pro:  Things they changed that I liked: the revolt against Snape and his flying away.  The boat house instead of the shrieking shack.  Voldemort feeling the destruction of each horcrux.  The Malfoys recognition of what's really important, though Narcissa could use one of those moments with her hairdresser.

Con:  Neville's underestimated role.  He was much more important than the director made him out to be.  I didn't like that his speech was mocked and shortened, or that he dragged around the sword of Gryffindor until he felt like killing a snake.  I guess Neville is simply more important in the books, so he didn't get more than 2 minutes of time in the movie.  It's too bad . . . especially since he has turned into a little hottie!  Ka-chow!

There's more I'd like to say, but I need to sleep so I can go see it again tomorrow.  All in all, it was really well done.  I'm relieved, I'm sad, I'm happy, I'm excited.  It's not very often that a movie can do all that for me, and it's even more rare that I find a story that becomes such an important part of me that I'll read it and watch it and think about it over and over again.  And I'm glad I'm not the only person who feels this way. :o)