Harry Potter and the Omission of Poignant Storyline Details

A Review of the 6th Theatrical Installment

This is probably the most belated thing ever to be written about anything but I delayed my personal  viewing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for several reasons. #1 I have always gone to the MIDNIGHT showing at the Uptown since the very first one (remember when we were on TV?!) and I felt awkward not being able to do so this summer. #2 I am just getting comfortable with the idea of going to movies alone. This weekend, however, my parents decided to take an impromptu T-ho vacation without telling me...leaving me alone to face my fear. The movie theater near my house was only showing HP on a 3-D IMAX screen...for $20. Well, let me tell you, friends...IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!! I felt extremely uncomfortable wearing the glasses alone but there were only like 6 other people in the theater (one was a 50-something man who was mildly attractive...I should have made a move, probably) so who cares. 

I must say that I have been a HUGE (like, psychotic proportions) Harry Potter fan since I was 12 and the first book came to the States. Every year, I would gaze longingly from my bedroom window in hopes of seeing a snowy owl delivering that sacred letter. One time, a pigeon flew into the glass and almost died and I took that particularly hard as I thought it may have been a sign from the big man himself- Dumbledore, I mean. But now I'm 22 and done with all the schooling I know about so one would think I've given up hope (I haven't). When the movies first came out I was nervous like every hardcore HP-er, nervous that they would suck and take away all of the righteousness of the novels. But the casting has been excellent and the movies are great. Not only have they included some of my favorite actors of all time (Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter), but the god-like casting agents have given us two brand new panty creamers to adore in the form of Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. 

Before the release of each movie I re-read every book (I just like them a lot ok?!) not because I'm trying be to that annoying girl ("um, excuse me, but Dolores Umbridge was chased into the forest by Centaurs!") about details but it just gets me in the mood. Up until this last movie, however, I was able to see past the glaring omission of certain plot details that feature prominently in the novel. This past movie, as much as I enjoyed it, was unfortunately by far the most loosely interpreted so I think its important to completely separate the movie series from that of the books. Apples to oranges, if you will. Not only were some points out of order, but the most beautiful line in all of literature (when the weakened Dumbledore says "I am not worried, Harry, I am with you" - I mean. My eyes are tearing up even now) was completely left out for random asinine moments that can only be described as a weakened attempt at British teen romantic "humour"- I seriously just did not understand why the director decided to take this direction, peppering a fine screenplay with meaningless banter. Hermione also sucked in this movie (not the strong, can-do woman we normally expect) and was annoying and cry-y and whiny. If I were Ron, I would have gone with Lavender too. The end was a major cop out as well. I suppose filming a full-fledged wizard funeral complete with flying carriages and Mermish serenades may have put quite a strain on an already ball busting budget ... but that whole lighted-wand shindig seemed more appropriate for a U2 concert- lighters up, y'all. I mean. 

Complaining this much about one of my favorite pastimes is very hard for me. Despite my griping, I left this movie with a smile on my 3-D bespectacled face and, of course, wanting more. I CAN'T WAIT TO RE-READ THE ENTIRE SERIES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE LAST 2 (TWO!!!) FILMS!!! Back to waiting for my owl...