"You're a Wizard, Harry"

On July 8th, 2000 a little book called Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire by J.K. Rowling was released. I had no idea what it was. I was working at Lenscrafters in Westland Mall at the time and saw that people were lined up outside of both bookstores, eagerly anticipating the moment when the gates were raised so they could buy their copies. I had never seen such a thing for a book release! The whole thing had me so curious. As it turned out, one of my coworkers (Amber!) was a HUGE Potter fan. She gave me a summary of the story so far and it had me so intrigued I went out and bought Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone that very day. I was instantly hooked.

I've said it before, but this book series made me fall in love with reading again. The way the storytelling flowed, the creatiivity and imagination that went into every aspect of it was so captivating that it was like (pardon my pun) I was under a magic spell. When they announced that they would be releasing the first book as a movie I was ecstatic. Especially after I saw the cast for the first time. Every one of them completely fit the description in my mind. When Jeff and I went to see it on opening night (November 16, 2001), I remember having chills and tears in my eyes when the title flashed on the screen. Chris Columbus (who directed the movie, produced it and is also responsible for the casting of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) did such a wonderful job of literally bringing that book to life. The great hall, the common rooms, the quidditch pitch, everything was spot on. I couldn't wait for the next one. It was so much fun to see the story progress and see the actors grow along with the tale that was being told.

***This is your usual SPOILER ALERT for everyone who has yet to see the film***

Almost 10 years later we are finally able to see the conclusion. And what an amazingly wonderful, emotional conclusion it was. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 was incredibly true to the book. I am so so grateful that they decided to split the final book into two separate movies. They were able to show every part of it that makes it so great. Daniel Radcliffe was superb. Seriously, superb. His facial expressions conveyed more than the dialogue did in some parts and I found myself completely riveted by him. This film was HIS shining moment and he did not disappoint. Everyone was good in it, of course but he was literally in almost every single scene and he owned them all.

Some of my favorite parts: when Neville brings Harry, Ron and Hermione to the room of requirement and all the other students are so happy to see them, they erupt in applause. I also loved the scene where Snape has all the students gathered in the great hall and is lecturing them on the consequences of helping Harry, when he (Harry) reveals himself, in his Hogwarts cloak and starts yelling at him, (as the Order of The Phoenix walk up behind him). It was so powerful, I jumped in my seat. They did right by the fans and left a few of everyone's favorite quotes in the script. Namely, Mrs. Weasley's, "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU B*TCH!". The theater broke into applause when that scene came on. While different from how it happens in the book, Ron and Hermione's first kiss was really sweet and very much in line with their characters. Oh, how I love my Ron Weasley (my Won-Won). I only really cried during one scene, which was the part in the Forbidden Forest with the resurrection stone (also my most favorite part of the book). Seeing James and Lily, Sirius and Lupin was SO comforting even though I already knew it was going to happen. It was so well done, I just loved it. The visual effects were very cool, particularly a scene near the beginning where they show tons of dementors looming above the castle.

I can't wait to see it again. I'm sad that it's all over but I'm so happy that it was created.

 So, thank you, J.K. Rowling for introducing this amazing boy to the world. Thank you for having such a creative imagination and giving people a world to escape to (quite literally if you go to The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter). Thank you to all the people responsible for creating this visual world that had only existed in our minds. Call me a nerd/geek/dork if you want for loving this series but I am proud to call myself a Potter fanatic. I am proud of what the series (books and movies) have accomplished, as well as all of the actors. I love the imagination that it instills in people and that I can show my own son that it's ok to make believe that you are boy wizard and have fun "casting spells". For anyone who doesn't get that, you don't know the art of playing make believe and using your imagination and I feel sorry for you. The amount of joy these books and movies bring me is priceless and I love that.

Thank you, Harry Potter.