Deathly Hallow Pt. 2
So it's sort of a massive understatement to say I loved that. I've never been a massive stickler about book to movie translations because they're just that, translations. Two different mediums that work quite differently that even if they shot every single word it wouldn't work because of the way it's set up. That being said they pretty much hit every single thing I was hoping they would hit and it was bloody fantastic.
I also had a really spectacular audience to watch it with, there was much cheering (molly and neville and mcgonagell) and sobbing (oh just about everything jesus christ) and clapping and it was a wonderful experience.
There is no way I can sort my thoughts into coherency so like bullet points.
1. MCGONAGELL OMG YESSSSSSSS. Like she is tied with Dumbledore as my favorite and what amazing BAMF moments she had here. I loved her beating back of Snape and her giddiness at being able to use that spell and preparing the castle for war because she's done that and been there and she knows and oh god my heart was so happy.
2. Dumbledore. So I was prepared for him but when you start off a seen with Harry going 'I'm ready to die' and then the ghosts and then he dies and then there is Dumbledore being himself but being oh so proud I was pretty much at the point of hiccuping sobs. I did sort of wish they could have fit in a bit more of his backstory (because even thought I love Dumbledore he's certainly not perfect, also Grindewald) but the fact that he was there and still speaking in riddles was sort of a soothing balm. I loved Harry's answer to Aberforth that he trusted the man he knew, even if he had done terrible things in the past. I feel like that's another great message that JKR puts out a lot.
3. Harry. Oh god Harry. I know it's sort of uncool to love Harry because he's our straight laced hero but I love him totally unabashedly. He's certainly not perfect and can be sort of an idiot but watching him in this movie was a bit amazing. The moment he learns that he has to die to kill Voldemort and that shock and then the willingness to sacrifice himself, not ridiculously but because he knows there are no other options and this will save the people he loves? All my tears. Daniel Radcliffe has done such a beautiful job in the last two movies portraying Harry as this grown up creature that has made his own family and is so quietly and fiercely loyal that I think I love him even more than book!Harry.
4. NEVILLE. I mean, just- Neville. His "Sam" moment of standing up and making that speech that makes you just weep because he's like yes we've lost Harry but he's forever in our hearts and we will never stop fighting and yes I'm totally tearing up just thinking about it. And of course his BAMF moment and his sweetness with Luna (who if I'm going for a het ship, I've always shipped with Harry but this is also adorable). But like the Neville that we've got glimpses of before has come to fruition in this movie and I bet he's the most badass Herbology teacher ever.
5. Luna. Just for the moment where she tells Harry to stfu because yes she's got something very important to say. She's always been the oddball but she's so perceptive and lovely that it's wonderful that yet again she's showing Harry his way.
6. Snape. In all honesty Snape has never been my favorite character, I dislike him for his teaching and favoritism and pettiness and the way he holds Lily on a pedestal. So suffice to say when it came down to it I wasn't expecting Snape's death to grasp me by the throat as it did. And then the memories, which I always thought would be so awkward on screen but somehow managed to be so beautiful (something I think these movies have handled so deftly is the camping and the memories chapter, I feel in someways they're almost an improvement).
7. They got my moments. Snape and his Always (because despite my feelings on the matter that is still such a beautiful thing). Neville and the snake cutting. Molly and the killing of Bellatrix Lestrange. Pretty much every moment in the book that made me love it was in there. Which was important to me that this movie captured the core of the characters and the moments that excelled it all. And it did and I am very satisfied.
Really though guys? I just loved it. I wept and cheered and in the end even loved that fact that they are still sort of fail at aging characters because it's sort of an in-joke at this point. But most of all I was just satisfied because was a great way to end the series.
*ALL THE EMOTIONS*