Monday At the Movies: No, I Didn't Walk Out of Harry Potter

Monday's Movie is hosted by Sheri at A Novel Menagerie.

Movie: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG
Directed By: Chris Columbus
Writers: J.K. Rowling (novel) & Steve Kloves (screenplay)

This weekend Anjin and I watched the first Harry Potter movie again. I am not sure how many times we've seen it. At least three. Maybe more. I imagine we will watch it along with the rest of the films again before the final two movies are released. It'll be a Harry Potter marathon, stretched out over a few days.

A rather generalized and overreaching summary of the films: Harry Potter is a young boy, left on the doorstep of his maternal aunt and her husband after the death of his parents. Upon his 11th birthday, he is whisked away to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he will spend the next several years of his life getting in and out of trouble, facing danger and risking his life. His biggest foe is the dark wizard, Voldemort, who killed his parents and whose attempt to murder Harry alongside them failed. Harry bares the scar of that fateful night on his forehead. Years later, in an attempt to regain power, Voldemort also sets out to kill Harry, the one boy who, according to prophecy, can destroy the dark wizard. Wherever Harry is, so are his two best friends, the rather comical and loyal Ron Weasley and the brainy Hermione Granger.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, viewers are introduced for the first time to a host of fantastical characters, many of whom we will come to love--or despise--over the course of the series. Daniel Radcliffe is perfect as Harry Potter. And I can't imagine anyone but Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in the roles of Hermione and Ron. Richard Harris plays the formidable and fatherly grand wizard, Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. One of the most memorable characters is Alan Rickman's Professor Severus Snape, who plays the line between dark and light so well you aren't quite sure what side he is truly on.

Harry is so innocent, wide-eyed and unsure of himself. He hadn't a clue about the world of magic until he first met Hagrid on his 11th birthday. He hadn't known what to make of the strange things that happened around him sometimes, but everything began to make sense once he learned the truth about his identity. He is extremely likable, as are his friends. Seeing the first movie again, I was reminded of why I liked Hermione so much. She's a bit of a know-it-all, sure, but there's something irresistible about her just the same. She's tenacious and intelligent. The way a true heroine should be.

I remember being slightly disappointed in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when I first saw it. I thought it was a good movie, and I quite enjoyed it, don't get me wrong. However, I had just read the book, and it so closely followed the novel that I felt like I was reading the book all over again. It was too soon, I think, to be jumping from book to movie. My consequent viewings of the movie have been much more pleasurable. Of all the movies, it is the one that closest matches the book. My husband referred to the film as a comfort movie, one he could happily watch year and after year. Truth be told, so could I. I could say the same for all of the movies in the series, really.

It was with images of the young cast fresh in our minds that we walked into the theater Sunday morning to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. They have all grown quite a bit in the last 8 years. Their friendship remains strong as does their determination to uncover the latest evil plot. This time it appears someone is out to assassinate their beloved headmaster, Dumbledore. Meanwhile, Harry and Dumbledore work together to uncover the secret behind Voldemort's renewed rise to power. And all throughout the halls of Hogwarts, love is definitely in the air, for better or worse.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is one of the darkest films in the series yet. Hanging in the air is a sense of foreboding. Evil is right on the doorstep. Hogwarts is on high alert, well-armed with security. It is no longer the carefree place it was in that first movie. The innocence of the characters is gone. They know what it is to have suffered and the risks they face.

It has been four years since I last read the book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. My coworker, who reread the book recently, mentioned that there were quite a few changes made, mostly in the rearranging of events. I can't speak to that, my memory of the book so fuzzy. I did notice, however, that much had been left out or scaled down. Considering the finished movie is 2 hours and 33 minutes long, I can understand why.

Regardless, the film was well done, exciting and way too short (yes, I know--how long could I possibly want it?). I nearly jumped out of my seat at one point during the film, even knowing what was likely coming. I hated to see the movie end. I wish I could spend a little more time with my favorite characters. (who wouldn't like to spend more time with the eccentric Luna Lovegood?) I don't know if it is because I feel the end is near or I have just grown so fond of the characters that I enjoy every minute I spend with them. I feel as if I have grown up right alongside these characters and shared in their adventures and sorrows.

Over the years we have seen different directors tackle and interpret tauthor J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter world. Fans have their favorites and least favorites. I know I have mine. Half-Blood Prince definitely comes out as one of my favorites. But then, that could be because it's the freshest in my mind at the moment.

Movie: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG
Directed By: David Yates
Writers: J.K. Rowling (novel) & Steve Kloves (screenplay)

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The Monday Movie Meme is brought to you by The Bumbles.

This week's movie topic is all about walking out ...

Have you ever walked out of a theater? Demanded a refund after renting? Turned the channel? Share on your blog some of the movies that made you wish you had that time in your life back and then link back at The Bumbles.

Last June, my in-laws were visiting. As we sometimes do, we decided to spend an afternoon at the movies. I was not too thrilled about the movie choice, but what's a girl to do? So off we went to see Kung Fu Panda. The movie actually turned out to be quite good. At least what I saw of it. Unfortunately, the power went out about 20 minutes into the movie. We waited and waited and waited some more. Several times a theater employee came in to apologize and to ask for our patience. After about half an hour, the manager came in and announced that free passes would be handed out for those interested as the show would not go on as planned. I still haven't managed to see the rest of that movie, although someday I would like to.

Other than that one instance, we have never walked out of a movie or even wanted to. There may have been a movie or two we wished we hadn't spent our money on seeing after the fact, but I have since forgotten what those movies were. The bad ones don't stay in my memory long, thank goodness.

In terms of rentals, since becoming a member of Netflix several years ago, I have returned a few movies unwatched. In all of the cases it was not so much because I did not like the movie, only that I was not in the mood to watch it right then. It's more a case of my returning the movies unwatched so I can receive movies I am in the mood to see.

A list of all the movies that I ended up returning unwatched (I had to look it up on my Netflix account--you really expect me to remember, did you?):
Made of Honor
Apocalypto
Monster's Ball
The Life of David Gale
All About My Mother

Several of these movies are ones I hope to watch at some point in the future, and hopefully this time, I will be in the right mood.

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