BEDJ 15: Hogwarts Will Always be There to Welcome You Home

WARNING. CONTAINS MAJOR DEATHLY HALLOWS SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOKS (what the hell are you waiting for, serious, it’s been out for years?!?!) OR WATCHED THE FINAL MOVIE, THEN DO. NOT. GO. ANY. FURTHER.

After nearly 12 hours after I watched Deathly Hallows Part Two, I'm still looking back and remembering all the cheer-worthy and tear-inducing scenes with fondness. I said it last night on Twitter and on the BEDpost, and I'll say it again: it was such a “wow” movie. This is how you adapt a Harry Potter novel. The movie benefited tremendously by being split into two parts. You can say it was a money move all you want, but I don't care. It was worth it. If they want to make an extra $300 million dollars so I can get a worthy adaptation, they could have split it into seven parts if they so desired.

Every book-to-movie project has changes that can't live up to the novels, but an overwhelming amount of the differences on screen last night were greeted by me with acceptance and understanding. The biggest change, of course, was the Final Showdown between Harry Potter and Voldemort. I anticipated the cut of the lengthy conversation and one-spell battle between them from the books, mainly because such a scene just wouldn't work in a movie like this, but I didn't anticipate to like it as much as I did. I was surprised by how well it worked for me, especially since I think I was one of the few that loved how it went down in the novel. Dare I say that I'm wishing that's how the book version would have transpired?

The biggest thing I appreciated about the film was the use of dialogue taken straight from the novels. Normally, fans are lucky to get those one or two lines they recognize, but this movie was just overfilling with it. By doing so, I feel like the movie makers acknowledged that JK Rowling's written words were already a masterpiece that didn't need enhancement. From the conversations with Griphook and Ollivander in the beginning to Snape's memories to the Forest Again, I smiled every time the words were spoken.

I cried. Not as much as I did when I first read the book though. I remember reading through the night and into the next day, and sobbing when Dobby died, when Fred died, when Harry walked through the forest, to the point where my mother was worried about me. The feelings were still there last night, like a wave of emotion that poured over my body during those scenes, but not with the same intensity.

I'm left with a heavy heart knowing there are no more movies to wait for. I won't have the much-discussed post-Potter depression, but I will long for more. As many have said, this is the end of an era - the swan song of the series - but at the same time, I agree with others who said the end came a long time ago. The end came when I wiped my last tear away and sighed with the book closed on my chest. The end came when I turned the final page, knowing that 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, all was well. The movies were just a way to prolong that ending, to make the wound of missing a wonderful series less severe, and to allow that injury to heal with the ointment of the films.

And just because it ended, that doesn't mean I can't go back.

Things that didn't work for me:

• My biggest gripe was King's Cross. For a casual viewer who might not have read the books, it was not adequately explained why Harry Potter had the ability to return from the dead. Especially since this was something most fans of the books didn't really understand in the first place.
• There were some awkward moments that distracted from the experience. Voldemort giggling. Not having both Crabbe and Goyle in the Room of Requirement. Voldemort giving Draco an uncomfortable hug. Dumbledore's words of wisdom at the end felt off. That Harry/Voldemort apparating as one entity through the Hogwarts grounds. The CGI-aged actors in the epilogue.
• I would have liked to see Fred's death on screen. And although we didn't get to see it in the books, I would have liked to see Lupin and Tonks' deaths as well. And a return from Kreacher leading the House Elves into battle would have been awesome to see.

Thinks I loved:

• The Forest Again. When Harry used the Resurrection Stone on the way to his death, I cried. It was beautifully executed and handled with the respect and care I so desperately wanted.
• The Prince's Tale. I was pleased (especially after OOTP botched “Snape's Worst Memory”) to find that Snape's memories of Lily and the events of Dumbledore's death were also handled with the care they deserved. And the added line in the boathouse “You have your mother's eyes” gave me chills.
• Neville Longbottom and Professor McGonnagal. Kicked. So. Much. Ass.
• Molly Weasley and the line you were waiting for.
• Ginny Weasley. Although she didn't have much screen time, every time she was there made me happy, especially since every scene with her was fueled with noticeable passion. Her reaction when Harry came back to Hogwarts. When she was the first to step in front of Harry when Slytherin wanted to turn Harry over to Voldemort. When she completely lost it when she thought Harry was dead.
•  Most of the changes worked on so many levels. We got to see Ron and Hermione destroy the Horcrux instead of hearing about it, and I liked their kiss. I was pleased to see the addition of the final Harry/Ginny kiss. The added battle with Nagini also added more action and suspense.
• The actress who played the young Lily Evans was adorable. As was the actor who played Albus Severus Potter.
• I've always said that Draco was more of less assisting the rebellion by default, so it was nice to have my theory vindicated when Harry asked him in the Room of Requirement why he didn't rat the Golden Trio out at Malfoy Manor.
  
  
  Those are my thoughts. Do you agree? What did you think?