Let me sum up:So geeked out and happy with "Deathly Hallows--Part 2." It's been a fun week, full of anticipatory tears. There were many nifty moments etched in my mind that I was really anticipating would get me crying. A few of these didn't hit me quite the way I expected...sometimes because of departures from the book, but also admittedly because I had very vivid, rigid pictures of how these scenes would play. But I certainly cried a ton...twice as much as
the last flick. And I was fully sated by the things I cared most about. Namely...
Let me splain:My Snape allegiance is clear in the banner, folks (that's a Snape is Innocent shirt, and before/during shots of
my first read through of Deathly Hallows). Seriously, for a "Harry Potter" fan, my investment in the character of Harry Potter is surprisingly tenuous. I joked with my husband yesterday that I wouldn't care if they rewrote the movie so that Voldemort won, as long as I got juicy Severus scenes. With that, let's break down the tears surrounding this flick.
Pre-TearsYeah, this is a thing. I knew I was in trouble when, several times over the past few weeks, just thinking about certain scenes got me misty (this happened around 7 times in line for the movie tonight). In addition to those moments, there were some ridiculous events that got me crying before the curtain went up (don't you miss when curtains actually went up?)
1) A message I received from my Mom as we arrived at the theater, indicating that she'd cried while reading a review.
2) Dead ringer for Comic Book Guy who came in and sat, alone, in an isolated chair in the corner.
3) Little girl at the theater with a blond wig (8pm Friday show, no other costumes). I asked her if she was dressed as Luna, and indeed she was. Glee. Don't worry, I didn't cry in front of her.
Tear Breakdown 1)
Headmaster Snape at the window.
Rawr.2)
Griphook breakin' it down at Shell Cottage. Okay, this was a ridiculous place to cry. But I dug the "Even goblins know Harry Potter" line. And I have a huge crush on Mr. Warwick Davis (I'm a villain geek, the Lep has a sexy tongue). Getting to see him play a lovely, lengthy, subtle scene tickled me.3)
Gringott's Dragon! Wow, this one did not hit me in the book at all. But those initial shots of the captive critter almost got me crying. And that made the escape extra gorgeous and exhilarating and tear-inducing.
4)
Neville explaining the new DODA techniques, and his refusal to participate. Oh, Neville Hotbottom. You're top notch. This sweet moment reminded me a bit of Fred and George comforting young students during Umbridge's reign.
5)
Guess who's at Hogwarts ya'll...Harry Potter! This scene was lovely and hilarious. The lightning has struck! I appreciated the face-time given to this wacky rag-tag band of students. Before many of them bit the dust.
6)
Harry calling Snape out. Conflicted tears! Oh lil Harry, if you only knew.
7)
Minerva saying she is glad to see Harry. Squee.
*** Ron and Hermione kisses should be next. If Ron had been talking about house elves, I would have been paying rapt attention. But in the seconds it took my brain to adjust to the rewrite, I kinda missed the kiss. I'm sure I'll enjoy it the next time I see the movie. I know, I know, they skipped all the SPEW stuff and that would have made the moment random. But Hermione is characteristically compassionate (example...they showed her indignant about the Gringott's dragon in this flick). It wouldn't have been
that random. And I like that the book kiss was Hermione's response to Ron's delightful, unexpected thoughtfulness. I'm married to a guy I've known since high school, though we didn't start dating until college. When you know someone for many years, you often get some nifty surprises as you grow and change together. And those changes sometimes let the whole relationship take a new direction. This is makin me misty. Moving on.***
8)
Aberforth...hrm, look who hasn't given up. Dug the shot of him fighting. Incidentally, I didn't really mind that they didn't get into Ariana or
Grindelwald or other pieces of Dumbledore's backstory, though I'm sure this will bug some folks. These parts of the book didn't resonate much with me...though I haven't reread since Rowling spoke on Dumbledore's sexuality. That said, I was hoping for some allusion to Aberforth's penchant for the goats. Anyhoo, much love for Ciarán Hinds. Really dug his take on Rochester in "Jane Eyre" a few years back.
9) Snape's last scene with Voldemort. And Nagini. Lots of anticipatory tears. Thought how they shot Nagini's attack was powerful and well done.
10) Snape's last words with Harry. The tweak to "Look at me" was another moment where my brain took a second to adjust. I appreciate that they added "You have your Mother's eyes" to make the line clearer. Part of me wants to be annoyed they spelled this out, but it's a great moment and I get that they want folks to be in on it. But I was just waiting for those 3 little words, delivered with appropriate...Rickman...gravitas. The addition shifted the punch and took me by surprise. Another case where a change threw me but I'll probably bawl the next time I see it.
11) Fred?...George?...Remus...and Tonks. Yeah, I'm an ass. I adore them, but I can never remember which twin bites it. Sorry. Like the book, this moment was wrenching. And quickly gave way to the other heavy business at hand.
12) Lead up to the pensieve. Again, lots of anticipatory tears.
13) Snape, Lily, and other pensive gems. We're talking 8 minutes or so of solid tears. Embarrassing, unavoidably audible sob at one point. I LOVED what they did with the childhood scenes. Really lovely. Rock on, kiddos. And so much Rickman goodness. And so many Snape tears. I was elated that they gave this moment its due. I'm a dork and had forgotten this is where Harry realizes he's an additional horcrux, so I should have know it would be in there. I was so glad they got the explanation of the doe patronus in too, though. The addition of Harry asking about the doe in King's Cross was a perfect way to bring this point home (this was an addition, yeah?) Honestly, the only detail I really missed in the other movies was the connection between Harry's patronus and his dad's animagus. It seemed like a pretty large (and easily corrected) oversight. So I'm glad things were different this time around. I know bits of the pensieve scene will still confuse my Dad and others who haven't religiously ingested the books, but I was so happy with what they chose to include here. Happy sigh.
***Incidentally, this series of really rough scenes for Snape-lovers is followed by like 10 minutes of near silence. Was I the only one mouth breathing while holding in a loud, uncomfortable sniffle this whole time?***
14) Lily's words to Harry via the resurrection stone. Fresh on the heels of the pensieve scenes....man, Mom's rock.
15) Neville talking about losses. Aw, Neville.
16) Molly goes mama-bear. Man, I love this line. Again, yay Mom's. Moment didn't pack quite the punch I expected (maybe because the crowd didn't burst into applause like I had hoped), but I loved it. Doesn't hurt that Julie Walters is a dead-ringer for my mom.
17) Decapitation time, Nagini. Again, mad props Matthew Lewis. I'm looking forward to reading adorable interviews with you now that I'm not avoiding Potter coverage. Heh, notice I jump from here to the epilogue. Voldemort, schmodemort.
18) "Albus Severus". Well earned, tearful finale.
~Geek out
