It All Ended… Disappointingly

I promised to post this review last weekend, but I found myself not only too busy and sore, but slightly too frustrated to write.
I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when I was 18, jumping on the band wagon a little later than most but quickly becoming hooked. Ten years later, I lined up outside the Odeon in Leicester Square awaiting the start of Deathly Hallows Part 2 with child-like anticipation.

Luckily, I was expecting to be disappointed. And this expectation was fulfilled – don’t get me wrong, the acting was good (especially when compared to the trio’s efforts in 2001), the effects were outstanding, but once again severe plot deviations left me, and i suspect many other Potter fans, slightly fuming.

Warning: Spoiler alert

Character deaths, such as George Weasley, left me emotionally drained whilst reading, but here they were rushed and almost glanced over.

Harry’s solo walk to the Forbidden Forest to meet his fate, was one of the most moving scenes in all 7 books, but yet they had to throw in a hug and long winded speech from Hermione, whilst Ron (once again) is sidelined and silent. Not only that, there was no confessions to Neville to kill the snake – so how did he know how to destroy it?

And don’t even get me started on the whole Harry & Voldemort zooming through the grounds of Hogwarts. No mention that love could redeem you, just unnecessary CGI.

Gaping plot holes left open through emissions from the last 7 books became clearly evident and to be honest, if you hadn’t read the book I don’t think you’d understand what was going on.
Some things though, they nailed. The Prince’s Tale had me weeping unashamedly (Alan Rickman you are a legend), Professor McGonagall had me, and the full house, cheering just as she did in the books while Ron & Hermione’s much anticipate snog, whilst not canon, was fantastic.

And now, as the plethora of outdoor advertising across London tells me – It all ends. But I beg to differ, it’s a saga that will undoubtedly be passed on down the generations encouraging children to read and inspiring adults to use their imaginations again.

For me, re-reading Harry Potter is like visiting  an old friend, one you know will always make you smile, comforting like an old pair of slippers. This may make my nearly 28-year old self particularly geeky, but sod it all – long live Potter.
Mischief Managed.