Hogwarts Revisited

Sure, everybody else saw the new Harry Potter movie way back in November, but a variety of occurrences (or non), including the lack of a babysitter and a blizzard, had kept us away til now. And we were lucky to find a showing. So even though Mama is battling a mild flu (mild because she had her shot, the doctor says) and I had to stand through most of it, we went out last night, thinking the movie wouldn't be in theaters much longer. And it's our one trip to the multiplex for 2011! (Having not gone once in 2010, I believe).

And we loved it.

Certainly not because it was fun, uplifting, cheerful, or anything like that. Those of you who follow the books and/or films know that the end is not pretty, unless it's pretty gruesome. Death, torture, anger, separation, loss, sadness, struggle, uncertainty. For those of you not in the know, it's kinda like the Empire Strikes Back of the series: as the heroes are thwarted at every turn, nothing really positive happens except a clear progression to the climax in the next and last film.

But the effects were amazing (I especially liked the graphics of the "Deathly Hallows" tale), the acting mature, the pacing nonstop even with all that staying in tents which took so long in the book. And who doesn't like watching British greats Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Imelda Staunton, and even a cameo by Sophie Thompson, despite the abbreviated screen times? I've loved Rowling's wizarding world from the first read oh-so-many years (has it been more than a decade?), watching and rewatching the movies with Mama, and now waiting to share it with the kiddos, who are already curious about Harry and his friends.

So last night, even as we wiped away tears, we were loving it. The next film comes out in July: no blizzards then and our babysitter will be home from college! Call it a date.