I hadn't originally planned to go see HP 7.2 at midnight (my level of fandom is only that high for the books) but when my neighbor called and said the theater was showing 7.1 at 9pm followed by 7.2 at midnight, I couldn't resist.
We got to the theater about 8:15 and it was already a madhouse. 15 screens showing the film at midnight and all sold out. We waited in one line to get our tickets scanned (another to get pretzel bites, Coke, and M&Ms), and then had to go around a rope and get our super fancy 3D glasses AND wristbands. It was like backstage at a Stones concert.
We made friends with the people around us, marveled over some of the costumes (I so want Hogwarts robes. Really, really don't need them) and settled in for 7.1. Both installments of 7 are the only ones I've seen without recently reading the book and I'm not sure if that's good or bad. On the one hand, it's good when there are egregious, terrible, unforgivable film choices made that ruin the movie for me (I'm looking at you HP6) but on the other it's irksome when I can't remember why something on screen is happening is more important than the film makes it out to be but the details are just fuzzy enough that...can't remember.
It was good to see 7.1 in the theater with another like minded person and discuss if the benefits of living in the magical world (Hermione's expanding bag) outweighed the negatives (Dementors) and all the tension was ratcheted up enough that it made all the 7.2 payoff that much better.
As far as 7.2 goes.... I enjoyed it. It felt choppy the whole way through, which I understood. So much to get through but it nearly seemed more like a bunch of vignettes than a flowing story.
And this is a gripe I have from the books [SPOILER ANYWAY] but I always wanted Neville (who is HOT now) to be the one who finished off Bellatrix. Sure Molly's line is awesome but it always seemed to me that the decision was more of this character who has been a strong presence in the books needs a big triumph more than anything else.
My strongest quibble with a choice made in the movie [VAGUE, NOT REALLY A SPOILER BUT STILL SPOILER] was with McGonagall. I mentioned it on Zoots blog earlier but she does something and then giggles that she's always wanted to do it. I don't take issue with the line but the line delivery. To me, the true McGonagall would have delivered it with a damn right, bet your ass I did it tone rather than sliding into giggly schoolgirl lookee me I just made a birdy out of a teacup territory.
But I'm happy. And sad. And bereft (don't go Harry!). And insistent (you owe it to the world to write more JK!).
All things that make for a fantastic experience.
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