The End
There was a point when I was reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the first time that I was so shocked, I had the need to call Sam at work just so I could share with someone my utter amazement at being caught by surprise. Sam had already finished the book at least a week before I did. During that time period I was taking classes and also pregnant and these two things coupled together were not conducive to reading the book in one sitting like I know so many other people were able to do. At that point I pretty much knew the rest of the Harry Potter fandom had discovered the truth about Severus Snape and I was so glad that I had been diligent in avoiding spoilers. I knew the main spoiler - Harry didn’t die, because I overheard a conversation, but I made sure to avoid all websites pertaining to Harry Potter. This made the truth about Snape in the chapter ‘A Prince’s Tale’ all the more astonishing and heartbreaking for me.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same thing about the movie. Even though I went to see the movie Friday night, I still could not contain my need to see this chapter come to screen, so I snooped on tumblr and found several gif images of Snape’s back story. I do think this in effect made that part of the movie less effective in pulling at my heart strings and I do hate myself just a little for having no self control.
I digress though. What can I say? I feel there should have been more to it. There were definitely scenes from the book that deserved to be on screen. In the beginning there was only Snape and Lily and then they are on their way to Hogwarts. Once they get there the story unfortunately jumps straight into Snape begging Dumbledore to protect Lily. I needed those intimate scenes between Snape and Lily that JK Rowling wrote to help show just how tragic a character Snape truly was. I will say this though … Alan Rickman has always been perfectly cast for this role. The Snape of the books was described in such an unflattering way, and this in turn affected my opinion of him. But Alan added so much to this character with his acting AND VOICE. It was so great to finally see him break from that façade of darkness and see him express emotions other than anger and disdain. That scene of him walking into Harry’s house and finding Lily … holding her in his arms … not at all bothered that the screen writer took liberties there with the story telling.
I realize the final book is much more than a small chapter about Snape, but for me it was the part of ‘Deathly Hallows’ that I read over and over and was most anxious to see on screen. So, I felt it deserved the most time for me to dissect. I honestly had no other problems with the movie. I felt it came to screen just how it should have. My squabbles I have mentioned before - about there being no chemistry between Ginny and Harry or Ron and Hermione, but that can’t be helped. When you chose actors who are children it can’t be helped if they don’t work well together on screen as a couple when they grow older.
I cried only once. When Hermione was saying goodbye to Harry after they both realized he was a Horcrux. I didn’t end up needing the tissues I packed for myself, but that doesn’t mean I was fine. The sadness I felt the next day was like what you feel the day after Christmas. It’s over. The last movie is done with and the books finished four years ago. It’s time to say goodbye to a part of my life, because as ridiculous as it sounds Harry Potter has been just that … a part of my life. I guess that makes me a geek, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Goodbye, Harry.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same thing about the movie. Even though I went to see the movie Friday night, I still could not contain my need to see this chapter come to screen, so I snooped on tumblr and found several gif images of Snape’s back story. I do think this in effect made that part of the movie less effective in pulling at my heart strings and I do hate myself just a little for having no self control.
I digress though. What can I say? I feel there should have been more to it. There were definitely scenes from the book that deserved to be on screen. In the beginning there was only Snape and Lily and then they are on their way to Hogwarts. Once they get there the story unfortunately jumps straight into Snape begging Dumbledore to protect Lily. I needed those intimate scenes between Snape and Lily that JK Rowling wrote to help show just how tragic a character Snape truly was. I will say this though … Alan Rickman has always been perfectly cast for this role. The Snape of the books was described in such an unflattering way, and this in turn affected my opinion of him. But Alan added so much to this character with his acting AND VOICE. It was so great to finally see him break from that façade of darkness and see him express emotions other than anger and disdain. That scene of him walking into Harry’s house and finding Lily … holding her in his arms … not at all bothered that the screen writer took liberties there with the story telling.
I realize the final book is much more than a small chapter about Snape, but for me it was the part of ‘Deathly Hallows’ that I read over and over and was most anxious to see on screen. So, I felt it deserved the most time for me to dissect. I honestly had no other problems with the movie. I felt it came to screen just how it should have. My squabbles I have mentioned before - about there being no chemistry between Ginny and Harry or Ron and Hermione, but that can’t be helped. When you chose actors who are children it can’t be helped if they don’t work well together on screen as a couple when they grow older.
I cried only once. When Hermione was saying goodbye to Harry after they both realized he was a Horcrux. I didn’t end up needing the tissues I packed for myself, but that doesn’t mean I was fine. The sadness I felt the next day was like what you feel the day after Christmas. It’s over. The last movie is done with and the books finished four years ago. It’s time to say goodbye to a part of my life, because as ridiculous as it sounds Harry Potter has been just that … a part of my life. I guess that makes me a geek, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Goodbye, Harry.