The last big screen adventure of the boy wizard, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” raked in $42.5 million at midnight screenings in the U.S. and Canada, according to Warner Bros. The previous record was about $30 million, set in 2009 by “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” (Movie Wires)
I went tonight with my two sons. The oldest, 22, who fell in love with the Harry Potter books as a fifth grader some 12 years ago. And the youngest, 11, who has read all seven books multiple times. It was fitting that we finish the series together.
I’ll leave it to the experts to review. But I enjoyed, no make that loved, the movie. The whole series actually. I look forward to a marathon of all seven films some upcoming snowy weekend. The film was dark, yet retained much of the humor of the books. And I thought it followed the book as well as any film adaptation can.
No spoilers here, but yes, we said goodbye to some folks. Perhaps a little less sad if you knew what was coming. Still, these have been our “friends” for years.
These days you never know what kind of audience you’ll get in a theater. Manners are pretty much non existant. Still this was a pretty respectful, non-talking, non-editorializing crowd. But none could help two specific moments of applause. If you know the book, one came just shortly after Molly Weasley uttered her best line of the whole series.
In some ways, it’s sad to see the series end and to say goodbye. But you never really say goodbye to a good book. There will be time to read them again and again.
For now, Mischief Managed.