Updated to Add: As of this very early Saturday morning hour, (it’s 5:15, if you must know), not a single comment has been left on this post! Not a one! Not a two! Not even Lawrence Welk stopped by!
(Obscure allusion. Forgive me.)
Are you away on holiday? Are you just now returning from Thursday’s tryptophan-induced haze? I did receive a private email—an online friend expressing some doubt about the movie mentioned at the bottom of this post—and so I figured, what the heck, what better way to get you to speak up than to ask your opinion on this cinematic matter. Have you seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? If you have, what’d you think?
Spoiler Alert! If you haven’t seen the movie yet (and/or finished the 7th book) be warned. The plot’s getting discussed in the combox.
Happy Day after Thanksgiving! Have you eaten up all that leftover pie yet?
My computer’s been acting all weird on me and I am only just getting back online. I think I picked up a virus (or eight?) on Wednesday when I tried to upload a free copy of Slumps, Grunts and Snickerdoodles...at least, that’s when all the funky, unexpected screens started popping up.
Disappointing, isn’t it? What’s a lady gotta do to homeschool her kids around here?
Anyway, thanks to our anti-Malware software and the many hours put in by my thank-goodness-he’s-a-night-owl husband, I am back. What fun it is to sign back in to Every. Single. Online. Account! What fun to wrack one’s brain to remember All. Those. Passwords!
I’ll stop complaining now.
I’ve photos to post, now that I can–photos from my girls’ back-to-back birthdays (Felicity’s theme was “Flower Fairies” and Cate chose, simply, “Blue”) and some crisp, Winter images from our Thanksgiving at Grandma’s. That can all wait, though–that has to wait, as I am deep into Harry & the Deathly Hallows (My first reading! Can you believe it?) and my boys are chomping at the bit for me to finish.
It seems there’s some movie they want to see…
See you tomorrow? Or Sunday? Or something?
I'll be the first to comment on this entry by saying: HARRY POTTER?!
Ick.
:p
Hi, Tina:
Don't really want to get into an argument on the merits of Harry Potter in general. I know that there are two very strongly opposed camps and in fact, used to be on the other side myself.
Who'd have thought?
Basically I'm interested in hearing from people who have seen the new movie and can recommend it.
Or not. 🙂
Hi, I prefer the books to the movies, just because I think so much is lost in the movie production. My son and I saw HP7 and thought it was close to the book version. I enjoyed it and so did my son, although nothing compares to the book.
I use to be on the avoid Harry Potter at all cost bandwagon until I read Nancy Carpentier Brown's book 'The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Cathoic Family Guide' and then furthered my reading with John Granger's books on Harry Potter.
At this point I'm a big fan of Harry Potter and regret my initial stance on the series.
We quit watching after the third movie, which just got a little too dark for comfort, and I think that's where the kids stopped reading for the same reason.
So, I have nothing helpful to add. 🙂
It's me again.
While I have opened up this thread more as a chance to hear what my online friends have to say, I am also doing some research on the side.
Here is a noteworthy review by Steven Greydanus: SDG Reviews 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I'
By his definition, my boys & I would be part of the Harry Potter franchise. We've really enjoyed the books & the movies.
Oh, and I loved his line about our being "Pott-heads."
I have seen Harry Potter twice now! 🙂 LOVED it! The first time you see it, you might cry. Be warned.
When did you switch sides?
Last we heard you were staying on your side but partly on the fence. You've jumped over!
Sorry, couldn't resist, havent' seen the movie!
We can't wait to see Yogi Bear in the theatres!
Good morning Margaret, We're back from Thanksgiving food-induced coma, and Black Friday frenzy. I belong to the never-read-one-of-the-books-or-seen-one-of-the-movies group — surely I'm not the only one — so am afraid I can't comment on Harry Potter. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Margaret.
No idea about Harry Potter….my wee ones are still too wee for that. However, I would like to upload a copy of the "slumps, etc"…. but is this the link from which the viruses came? Just checking. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Aloha, darling dear! Ugh, I'm still stuffed to the gills, but all is well.
Okay, the film! It was EXCELLENT. The only thing I didn't like was . . . not getting to see the second half right then and there!!!
It's very close to the book. Some scenes are very hard to watch (for me, because I am an ultra sensitive person) as in the one where (in the beginning) the Deatheaters are gathered at a table with Lord Voldemort and a teacher from Hogwarts is suspended above them. You can see how she's afraid and recognizes some of them . . . especially Snape. You can see how some of them are purely evil, some confused, some just going along with it (wanting it to end because they are afraid and they know that they could be next – at least that is the fear I think the Malfoy's have/show) . . . of course the teacher is zapped . . . It is sad that you can totally feel for Hermoine that she's erasing her parents memory of her (to protect them) . . . you can totally see how purist ideas are being pushed forward by the Deatheaters takeover of the Ministry of Magic. Very good ground to discuss how this very thing happened in Nazi Germany . . . many people just go along with it to keep themselves/family safe, but then they are trapped – this is something at least I caught on to very quickly in what was going on in the film/books.
There are many laughable moments as well! Some more subtle the boys might miss completely (facial expressions of Hermoines when dealing with Ron). Ron is such a doll in this film – just a wonderful friend. YOu can see their friendship is very loyal and I love it.
I am glad that they included the scene of visiting Luna Lovegood's father and the tale of the Deathly Hallows was told by Hermoine and illustrated in the film. Very cool.
And, key point when Harry explains that Lovegood caved because fear and so on . . . it's hard to hold fast in times like that. Nazi Germany anyone? How about when we are asked to stand for Christ and on that day we are facing the sword, can we? These are discussion points you can have.
Of course, it is very sad when Dobby bites the dust – but his character is a noble one! and that is why it is so sad that he does die.
The most scary scene is when they visit Bagshot and it's not her – she morphs into that dreaded snake! blech. But, it's part of the story!
I recommend it for 12 and up. I believe the darker the books become is really more that we are going to witness more of our beloved characters being killed off. It's always unpleasant, but it is always realistic. Not everyone goes unscathed when in battle!
Let me know what you think after you see it.
Aloha,
Sarah
Hey, I got the Lawrence Welk joke. Do I get a prize? 😉
Margaret,
I have nothing to add to the HP discussion. I've read all the books but only seen the first two movies and don't plan to see any of the others any time soon.
But about having to remember all those passwords… one word: 1 Password. Ok, so that's a word and a number. It will remember all your passwords for you so all you have to do is remember the one password for the program. A sanity saver.
If I had a prize, it'd be yours, Kelly!
And Melanie, you're a gem. Thank you.
Jamie, to answer your question will take a post of its own…if and WHEN I get around to it.
Jenny, no, the Amazon is not the bad link! As far as I know, that one's safe.
An addendum, as my daughter just reminded me of this part in the film: when Harry opens the locket and tells Ron to destroy it, a black cloud comes out and verbally attacks Ron by knowing Ron's fears, weaknesses, and jealousy. There is a bit where from the waist up nudity (no breasts) Ron sees Hermione and Harry making out in a sexual way that you should be aware of . . . it's several seconds long and quite obnoxious in my humble opinion. SO – cover their eyes!
My kids are 13, 14 and 16 and have unfortunately seen snippets of worse (unaware parents!). so, it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't necessary at all.
HI!!!!! 😉
Harry Potter, ick. never watched the movie, better books to read than them….
signed
Theresa (waving) in ALberta
take a look at this! I would have like to been at this food court when this event happend 🙂
Our whole family went to see the movie Thursday. My 17 and 15 year olds are big HP fans, both of the books and the movies. My 13 and 10 year olds have not read the books nor are they interested. Mostly because they have seen the movies and because they have grown up with long debates at the dinner table about whether our children should read Harry Potter. I think this movie validates much of what my husband (the anti Harry Potter) had argued: actual evil terminology is used in children's fantasy in an ambiguous (read: not clearly evil) way. The movie is very dark and scary. But then, so is the book. We knew about the Harry and Hermione scene ahead of time and covered the eyes of the two younger ones. Why does the director include that? The insecurity of Ron could have been presented in an equally effective non-graphic manner. Half of us thought the movie was not well done. Surprisingly my 15 year old was one of the movie haters. I will say though that the scene at the beginning when Harry and Ginny kiss is really well done. You should see it if you are "Pottheads". Sarah, above, made some very good points.
Hey there,
Just chiming in here. One, we are still in the midst of Thanksgiving celebrating at my mother's house with the 5 siblings, loads of kids and a very FULL tummy.
Why do mother's insist on feeding their children every hour of the day LOL…
As far as the HP movie. Yes, we did take our eldest to watch it. And it was the closes to the book of all the movies. Thus, I actually liked it and this is after NOT liking any of the previous ones.