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Hubby and I saw the midnight showing of "Harry Potter". It was AMAZING!!!!!

Of course, I'm dragging at work today, having had less than four hours sleep, but it was totally worth it!!!

The final battle was just as I imagined it would be when I read the book!!!

For die-hard "Harry Potter" fans, it is a must-see! We saw it in 3D. I think that you could probably enjoy it just as much in 2D. However, you do get the keepsake Harry Potter design 3D glasses as part of the deal.

The scene where they escape from Gringott's bank on the back of the dragon is breathtaking! I have to go to Universal Studios and see how they reproduce that ride. LOL

For those of us who read the books, there were a few discrepancies which were mildly annoying.

1. In the movie, after explaining the secret of the Elder Wand to Ron and Hermoine, Harry breaks it in half, and throws it over the mountain. This leads you to believe that he continues using Draco's wand as his own. In the book, Harry uses the Elder Wand to perform the "Repairio" spell on his broken wand (the wand Hermoine accidentally broke in "Deathly Hallows" part 1). He then places the Elder wand carefully in Dumbledore's office desk drawer where Dumbledore's ghost watches over it.

2. There was a very cute exchange between Ron and Harry at the very end of the book that I had really looked forward to watching the actors reproduce. Unfortunately, the scene was cut...probably for time length. I hope that it was actually filmed and might be available on the DVD. The conversation entails Ron bragging to Harry about how he passed his muggle driving test, and that Hermione had thought he wouldn't pass it unless he placed a Confund spell on the examiner. Ron leans into Harry and says, "Of course, I DID confund the examiner. Just don't tell Hermione! I'll never hear the end of it!"

3. I also think that since Rowling later revealed the future occupations of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, it would have been fun to try to work that tidbit of information into the final scene. They all work as Aurors for the Ministry of Magic and revamp the ministry.

Still---My husband and I are "Harry Potter" nerds, so these are minor points in a great film, and an even greater story. My 22 year old daughter, a "Harry Potter-acholic" who has read all of the books several times, saw the movie in a different theater last night as well. I'm sure that when we compare notes, she will have a zillion more finer points of differences between the film and the book!

Never read the books. But we do have all the DVD's so far. I started with the first one and found it inane. Just me and the style of writing I prefer. But I have generally enjoyed the movies though they are getting a bit tedious. Am sending my 16 year old daughter to this one with her friend for the midnight showing tonight. Will probably wait to see it in the dollar theater myself.

bcspace wrote:Never read the books. But we do have all the DVD's so far. I started with the first one and found it inane. Just me and the style of writing I prefer. But I have generally enjoyed the movies though they are getting a bit tedious. Am sending my 16 year old daughter to this one with her friend for the midnight showing tonight. Will probably wait to see it in the dollar theater myself.

The writing gets better. By Book 4, there was no going back for me.

When the "Deathly Hallows" book came out, my husband and I each bought our own copy. There was no way either of us could share!

I wish e-books had been popular then, because I lugged that large hardback book around everywhere..to work, etc., until I finished it! LOL

the final movie was anti-climatic for me. i left just thinking "huh, now its all over"

for me, where were the minitars, the Giants, other wizarding schools. I do not know what could have been done differently, but I like the other movies better. Snapes story was sad. And speaking of Snape, how come so many people were not present with the resurrection stone? i.e. cedric, Dunbledor, Snape.

3sheets2thewind wrote:the final movie was anti-climatic for me. i left just thinking "huh, now its all over"

for me, where were the minitars, the Giants, other wizarding schools. I do not know what could have been done differently, but I like the other movies better. Snapes story was sad. And speaking of Snape, how come so many people were not present with the resurrection stone? i.e. cedric, Dunbledor, Snape.

The book was much clearer on a lot of these issues than the movie. Snape's story was a major element in the final book, and I felt that the movie's coverage pushed it a little further to the background in lieu of action than I would have preferred.

The resurrection stone was going to pull people who were particularly close to Harry during his time of need. What is very clear from the book, is that Snape had been there for him all along, in the same sense that Dumbledore had. Dumbledore's unique role was played after Harry "died" and then came back to life. Also, in the book, it is clear that Dumbledore continues to watch over Harry from his office picture as one of the ghosts of Hogwarts.

It is also much more clear in the book that there are other witches and wizards present. It is simply that the final battle occurs at Hogwarts.