So—was it as good for you as it was for me?

Out of all of the Harry Potter films, I think that Deathly Hallows (both parts 1 and 2) were the best adapted onto the big screen. This may very well be because it was my least favorite book, and I didn’t mind it being mauled a bit—or the fact that it really seemed to be the least mauled book in the first place. Whereas Rowling’s final installment felt drawn out in some areas and rushed in others, the film

seemed to pace it perfectly, and both were highly enjoyable to watch. (Spoilers ahead.)

Both movies seemed to enhance the storyline immensely, providing tension and suspense where needed, and jazzing up otherwise boring scenes. Just as the scenes in the woods during part 1 were heightened, the bank scenes and the end war scenes were more fully explored. Parts in the book where I did not cry—such as during the death of Snape—affected me so much more while watching the film. In fact, I was most emotional during Snape’s death scene, which surprised me very much. It was a lot more brutal than I’d imagined it—as well as more moving in general.

The parts that were nixed from the book were deeply missed, of course, though I did expect many of them. In part 1, we did not see Kreacher’s transformation to a friend from foe due to Harry’s kindness, as we did in the book; his final stance at the end of the film in Harry’s name was one of my favorite parts of the book and it’s too bad that non-readers missed that. I also loved how Trewlawny threw crystal balls at people, which would’ve been epic to see on the big screen! Neville’s badassery was so much more pronounced and meaningful in the book, while in the film it was almost made into a joke.

The same goes for my favorite Weasley women. Mrs. Weasley doesn’t seem at all affected when her son dies (she didn’t in the first film, either, when George’s ear was mutilated), and when she kills Bellatrix, yeah, we’re given one of our favorite lines, but it’s delivered so smugly, followed by a smile of satisfaction, which is very annoying. Mrs. Weasley isn’t smug or satisfied; she just lost a son! She is grief-stricken and near mad, and she didn’t portray that at all. She would never take joy from killing someone, either, which was what it sure seemed like in the movie.

Then, of course, there was the epilogue that most readers were unsatisfied with. The future-trio looked pretty cool aged, I must say; but what the hell was with Ginny’s getup? My husband thought she looked like a lawyer; I thought a secretary myself. We are talking about a major Quidditch star who goes on to play for the Holyhead Harpies! Of course, that was before she had kids and she became a writer for the paper, so I guess her outfit and hair could pass for that. Still, I always thought Ginny would have her trademark ponytail until the end; she’s not a fuddy-duddy and she wouldn’t be a boring mom.

I really wish I’d gone to a midnight showing where people cried openly and clapped at the end; my sister went to a showing where people dressed up as Quidditch players, the golden snitch, and more. The showing we went to was sparser and the people didn’t seem to be die-hard fans, and I really wanted to stand up and clap at the end—it’s really over!—but I didn’t. Instead, my husband and I sat silently as the theater emptied, saying our goodbyes to one of our favorite series and the wonderful characters that became parts of our lives for so long.

For now, of course; my daughter will be old enough to read the books with us once again before we know it, and we’ll get to relive it all over again!