This weekend ABC Family has been showing the first three of the Harry Potter films, with the deleted scenes added in the proper places. Last night we curled up and watched Sorceror's Stone, and I marveled at how young these three actors were. The first film premiered in 2001, and we've watched Dan, Emma, and Rupert grow up before us on film. They've not only grown physically, but they've also grown as actors, honing their craft more and more as each film progresses. And then there's the amazing adult cast members, a true "who's who" of British stage and screen: Richard Harris (in the first two films before he passed away), Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith (one of my favorites), Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Robby Coltrane, and more.
Tonight we'll watch Chamber of Secrets which introduces Kenneth Branagh, another favorite. I'm not nearly as impressed with Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, but he'll have to do after the death of Richard Harris. Tomorrow night Prisoner of Azkaban will be shown, and we'll get to see Gary Oldman and Emma Thompson, as well as David Thewlis. On Monday or Tuesday we'll watch our DVD of Goblet of Fire, which will showcase even more talent from the UK; in fact, the additions to the cast for the fourth film are quite tremendous.
And right now, as I type, six tickets to Order of the Phoenix reside in my wallet. I ordered them online last week and picked them up on Thursday evening for the noon matinee for Wednesday. We'll miss out on the midnight madness for the film's debut on Tuesday evening, but Wednesday will do just fine. We're looking forward to the fifth film with baited breath, especially for the addition of Imelda Staunton, among others, and the return of Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson, and David Thewlis.
As E reminded me this morning, we have a mere THREE days left until the movie, and only THIRTEEN days left until the seventh and final book. (And yes, I'm rereading the series in anticipation of the last book; I'll have to hurry through Half-Blood Prince.) I also know I'm going to be very upset when the final book is read, done, and finished; the amazing phenomenon of these books and the final answers to Harry's story will be concluded. I'm absolutely dreading that moment when it's ALL OVER. Yes, two more movies are on the way, but it won't be the same as the suspense of the last ten years, waiting for the answers to all our questions about Harry and his friends. These books are true literature in their concern with eternal values, good versus evil, woven into great plotting, themes, mythology, history, characterization, and all elements that make literature LITERATURE. And as much as I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Deathly Hallows, I'm dreading it as well. The end of an era is at hand.
1 comment:
I'm dreading reading the last sentence of Deathly Hallows, as well. I hate the feeling of knowing there is no more. We want to go to the midnight showing of the movie but I just don't think our budget will handle it this time around. :(
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