My daughter and I have certain movies we like to see together. We try and go see these movies the first weekend that they are released so that we can participate in the long-awaited, premiere hype. We have seen the Sex in the City movies, a few chick flick romantic comedies, one or two horror flicks and, of course, the Harry Potter series.
Not on our list of movies to see are the Twilight films. Why? Because the books suck. I tried to read the first Twilight novel, but by page five I realized the author could not write herself out of a paper bag. I have to admit that I am jealous that she as an agent with marketing vision, but that still does not hide her lack of talent. Since the book sucks for anyone over the age of 13, we figured the movies would too, and I heard that we were correct in our assessment.
This is not the case with Harry Potter. JK Rowling spews talent. She is an amazing storyteller who makes us want to see her words transformed into films, and we have not been disappointed for the most part. Hoping that the last Harry Potter film would live up to our expectations, my daughter and I headed to the IMAX theater to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.
When we walked into the theater they handed us the obligatory 3-D sunglasses which I have to admit were sort of stylish with their black, boxy frames. We had to sit almost near the front of the theater, but we didn’t care. We also did not get snacks for two reasons: The first being that I still have to do food shopping for the week and one round of snacks at the theater would eat up my grocery bill budget. Secondly, I knew that if I spent the $7.50 for a small soda, it wouldn’t stay with me for the entire movie and that at exactly one hour and 22 minutes into the film, I would have to leave for the ladies room. This would piss off other movie goers because I would have to climb over them. Also, it’s not good to miss any part of a Harry Potter movie. You miss one minute, you might as well miss the entire movie, and no one in the theater is going to take the time to explain what happened while you were in the bathroom until after the movie is over– which at that point, you don’t really care. People are very judgmental about those who can’t hold their Pee until the end of the Potter pictures.
I know that just writing about Harry Potter is beyond sinful to some people. And to those people who might think I am being disrespectful to your religious beliefs, let me say this as politely as I can: Get a freaking’ life! I am so tired of the black magic, Satan propaganda these ultra-religious freaks spread. I am not a bible expert, but I don’t remember anywhere in that entire book seeing a passage forbidding Harry Potter. And to be honest, I have a tough time picturing the Almighty saying,
“In the future, I forbid you to see movies about wizards or witches or anything magical in the plot. You can see movies with boobs and bad language flying around, but movies with wizards are out. While I’m laying down the censorship rules, movies that challenge traditional religious viewpoints are also out. Why? We can’t have people making up their own minds about religion. People can have free will but not free thought.”
Okay, I jumped off my soapbox, so back to the movie: It was fantastic. That is all I am going to say on the plot. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. With each Harry Potter film, I am taken aback by how grown up the main characters have become. They were literally babies in the first movie and now they are adults. Call me sentimental, but I am proud of them in mommy kind of way.
By now, you can guess that I give a “thumbs up” to this flick. Go see it and let your imagination soar. The acting is superb, the special effects are phenomenal – just a great film. I am sad that this is the last Harry Potter film, but I will deal. I’m sure JK Rowling has other adventures up her imagination-rich sleeve, and I am sure this fact makes the conservative religious groups happy too. If it wasn’t for writers like JK Rowling, what would they find to bitch about? Oh wait, there is the whole “Oprah is the pre-cursor to Satan thing”. Don’t believe me? See for yourself: Mike Bickle: Oprah Is a Forerunner Of The Antichrist
photo by angelblade
I’ve been left behind by the thundering Harry Potter bandwagon after book three. They just didn’t grab me and I found it so easy to let my mind wander. Hence, I go and see the films with the family and understand very little. However, they do contend that the books are better than the films and that the films ought to be seen just as a sensationally-produced summary of the book.
So Harry Potter is Satan? Huh, I guess I always figured Satan was more, I don’t know, of a super duper evil badass. Well that ruins the Satan thing for me, damn it. See if I do any more sacrifices to that mamby pamby anymore. Sheesh! I’m sure the virgin locked in my closet will be happy to hear this news.
It’s absurd to think the Potter films are anti-christian. As a matter of fact, I found enough to do a week long series called ‘The Gospel According to Harry Potter’ on my blog. Don’t worry, it’s not religious, just tells the story of The Good Samaritan and how Dumbledore’s advice is very similar. http://www.napkindad.com/
I am going to read it now. Excellent. It’s all about good vs. evil but they insist on finding evil in the fantasy world of wizards and Hogwarts. Obviously, people with too much time on their hands, Marty! Thanks for the comment and read
I guess the world of Harry Potter is just too scary for some hardcore Christians. Unlike “Jesus Camp”. 😉
I am a religious person, and I love the Harry Potter books and movies. I have the whole series of books, some of them in First Edition hardback, courtesy of Amazon.com, which encouraged us to order them in advance rather than line up outside the nearest Barnes & Noble. To me, the books and the movies are just really great fantasy tales, having nothing to do with religion, whether Christian or Wiccan. And yes, I plan to see the new movie in IMAX 3D. It’s the only way to go.
Go for it, Kathy, but watch out! LOL Already the protests are starting.