Spoiler Alert

WARNING: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE HARRY POTTER MOVIE, AVOID THIS POST UNTIL AFTER VIEWING!

So I went and saw the last Harry Potter film this evening, and I was unaware a movie could be butchered so much! While all movies cannot be perfect screen adaptations, usually small things being altered along with some big things, there were so many essential things that were messed up that it was ruined. I literally knew 10 minutes in that the movie would not be a good one. About half way through I had checked out completely, in which I proceeded to find the film a comedy since I thought it was so terrible.

However, in trying to critique the film from the perspective of an unknowledgeable audience, it may be enjoyable. It was very intense and simplified complex scenes from the book for such an audience to understand. But beyond the dramatic aspects of this altered film that may be riveting, there were a few concerns about the technical elements. The film did not contain great transitions, as scenes were sort of chopped together. Also, the comedic relief was placed in odd/inappropriate places. But on the whole, the film did hold viewer’s interest due to the intensity of the plot.

From the other perspective (the informed reader), the film was quite shocking in the variation from the film. Although depicting the major ideas that the horcruxes had to be destroyed before the defeat of Lord Voldemort, the majority of it was far-fetched and largely distorted from the story. Beyond smaller and less important things that were excluded from the film such as George’s missing ear or the lack of Dumbledore’s family backstory, the major disturbing adaptations included:

• During the final battle between Voldemort and Harry, it was not alone and there was never any physical confrontation. The duel occurred in the Great Hall, in front of everyone, as Harry explained why he possessed the Elder Wand
• Voldemort’s ability to feel when a horcrux was destroyed. He could not feel nor was weakened when a horcrux was destroyed. The realization of Harry’s knowledge of the horcruxes only fueled Voldemort’s anger and urgency; it did not weaken him.
• Harry coming forth from the student body to Snape. This was largely misconstrued as Harry was searching the castle for the lost diadem and a method to destroy the horcruxes. This direct revelation was obviously for dramatic effect – confrontation and bravery on the part of Harry and the Order.
• Harry never destroyed the Elder Wand. Additionally, he fixed his own wand, planning to take the Elder Wand to the grave with him. Again, this was for dramatic conclusive effect – an obvious action to the audience that all was done and over.
• Neville killed the snake before Harry even started trying to kill Voldemort, as there would be no horcruxes left!

Other small details that are not crucial to the main plot line but altered that could easily have been depicted were:

• Snape’s memories were not as tears.
• Snape never visited Godrick’s Hollow.
• Voldemort killing Snape was in the Shrieking Shack, not in a boathouse.
• Right voices during the Polyjuice potion scene with Hermione as Bellatrix.

On the whole, the film may have been enjoyable if either the larger or the smaller things alone would have been properly depicted. However, since there was such a vast difference between so many things, it seemed so disconnected from the book. While every true Harry Potter fan will go see the movie since it was the last one, I cannot stress enough what a disappointment this was, especially considering it was the final chapter to close out the series. I am truly sorry for the entire Harry Potter fanatic fan base. Good luck with the film.