Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Here’s my review/opinion of the movie series of Harry Potter and my short critique of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I was impressed with the movies. The casting was absolutely superb. Except for the unfortunate passing of Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore for the first two movies), even the re-casting of the role of Professor Dumbledore to Sir Michael Gambon did not interrupt the flow of the movie series. Watching the youngsters Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), Emma Watson (Hermione), Bonnie Wright (Ginny),  Matthew Lewis (Neville), and Tom Felton (Draco) mature as actors in their profession and evolve from children to adulthood was a delight and a consistency that only increased the loyalty for Harry Potter fans.

I really enjoyed what Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall) brought to her character and actually loved her more on screen than in the books. Alan Rickman was brilliant as Severus Snape and pulled off mesmerizing the audience with a love/hate relationship. His story finally untold and his acting stood true. He was incredible.

I truly felt each part was so perfectly filled. There was not a actor/actress that disappointed and they all were cast more brilliantly than my imagination had created (with the only exception being Madame Olympe Maxime who was played by Frances de la Tour as Hagrid’s love interest).

The movies did what they could to include as many scenes from the books. The biggest problem I saw was that J.K. Rowling is so creative and the books so effective, that the movies could only portray so much. I will always prefer the books for the excellent creative use of words and the minute details that are even interesting. It simply could not all be portrayed in the movies.

My biggest disappointment was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. The final book, to read, was so intense, had such character inner conflict that was so precise and understood. Because HP7 was separated into the two movies with a time lapse, I truly felt that character external and internal conflict of Harry, Ron, and Hemione that was so well expressed in Part I was glossed over in Part II. I felt cut off from the characters. In addition, I really felt that the ploy that Dumbledore had built in Snape’s mind for Harry Potter to believe he HAD to die was not the dramatic event on screen that I expected.

My other disappointment was Neville’s role in the end. I wish more of his character could have been revealed throughout the films, especially his loyalty at the end. Although the movie did have the big moment when Neville challenged Voldemort and again showed his devotion, I felt his role in the snake’s death (when Ron and Hermione failed) was slighted.

Even though Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows would have made for a long movie, I do wish it was one movie only. I felt so much of the momentum from the end of the Part I lost in Part II.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

But overall, I have really enjoyed the wizarding world of Harry Potter and wish I could have attended Hogwarts, even as a muggle. This movie series delighted my children and me for years. I will miss the anticipation of a new book and/or movie premiering but know that all good things do come to an end. And Harry Potter… he was a good thing.

Sydney turns 9!

Sydney turns 9!

Wishes and Blessings!

Wishes and Blessings!

Birthday "spankings" from Grammy!

Birthday "spankings" from Grammy!

Sydney loves Grammy; Grammy loves Sydney!

Sydney loves Grammy; Grammy loves Sydney!

This summer has me coming out of a dark period of my life. The winter was long and harsh. I’m not sure when the sun started shining again but nonetheless it DID happen. My kids and I have found ourselves surrounded by the most amazing group of friends. The friends are totally random but fit like a good shoe. COMFORTABLE.

I’ve been facing the loss of one of my dearest friends since August 2009. She’s an amazing person; strong, resilient. She has been staring down Stage IV Metastatic Triple Negative Chemo-Resistant Breast cancer. She was given six months to live last August. We just enjoyed an amazing and carefree time tonight at the pool.

Her cancer has spread through her lymph nodes, to her lungs, and is now in masses outside the organs. This makes me so sad when I write this. I don’t focus on that side often these days. I cannot. There is still too much life to LIVE.

I didn’t have much hope that my friend would make it to our children’s dance performance in May (she has two daughters… 11 and 8). I dreaded the night of the performance. I didn’t take for granted that she sat beside me as always. We all gathered at Calhoun’s after an amazing performance (and whisper time) at the Tennessee Theatre.

But there is this nagging in my thoughts… was that my last performance with her at my side?

This is going to be the happiest summer of my life… of my children’s life… of her children’s life… of her life!!! There is going to be sun, laughter, fun, fellowship… even some drinking. Because it’s all we have… and it’s all I know to be.

But what I’ve noticed is that I’m not alone. God has surrounded me with some more amazing friends that require no effort to be around. When I’ve been feeling like I’m drowning in grief, they’ve unknowingly been there for me… and for my kiddos. It’s summarized in the quote by C.S. Lewis, ““Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one!” There are these amazing friends in my life that just get me. I just didn’t know how much I needed them or how much my children have needed their children. We are so blessed.

This is going to be the happiest summer of my life. All I care about is tangible, within my reach.

Please pray for my friend, Jennifer. May LOVE somehow just heal her.

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