Suddenly Harry Potter #7

A new HP film is always an event anticipated with elation in the heart of this ardent fan. Of course, watching the movie will also eventually provide its loads of frustrations – why so many wild cuts from the delights of the novels?

The very first viewing of the movie still supplies the specific emotion of long-awaited reunions. You look around and watch other fans wearing costumes of Gryffindor students or Death Eaters. When the lights dim, you realize your heart starts beating faster. And here you are… you see the Scotland countryside that has become so familiar to you over the years and the characters you have shared so many hours with – as you read the novels or listened to the audio books in your car.

However, we missed on our usual traditions for this seventh movie. It came out today, Friday November 19th, and as usual, special showings were scheduled at midnight. We purchased the tickets ahead of time and counted the days.

Yesterday Thursday night, after a long day, I was sending my last few emails when Irvin realized: our show was at ten past midnight on Friday, that meant in the night between Thursday to Friday, not Friday night. It appears obvious now, but for the night owls that we are, midnight time is more like a late afternoon still connected to the previous day.

It was ten past midnight. We looked at each other and Irvin asked “Do you want to go?” Was there really any need to answer this? We rushed.

Puyallup is not a very lively town past 9 PM and we don’t live far from the movie theatre. Ten minutes later we were there. The parking lot was packed, but the building appeared dark and strangely deserted. A hooded young man was working at changing the titles of the movies on the marquise. He looked the only living being in sight. The doors were sealed.

“Can’t we get in?” I asked, considering forcing our way in.
“No, he said. The show has started and it is full anyway”.
“We have tickets already!”
He shrugged. “Then go ahead. The door on your right.”

Eventually here we were, in the right place, sitting on the very first row right under the screen in what seemed to be the very last available seats of this large room. Harry was already flying along with Hagrid and the battle around them was fierce (I won’t say more).

My opinion is, this is the best of the 7 movies. For one thing, the screenplay follows the novel step by step. The actors have matured and are perfect.

We left the place thoroughly enchanted. Which is only fair, for a story involving wizards.