Fan Focus: Layla – November 28, 2010
17-year-old Layla from Australia
First off, how did you become a Harry Potter fan?
Well, my dad used to read the books to my sister and me when I was only six or seven years old, and when the first movie came out, I started reading them for myself, and was immediately hooked! Each time, before a book or movie would come out, I would constantly be quivering with excitement and anticipation, so it’s been a thrilling journey for me. Since 1999, I’ve been a true Potter fan through and through.
It has been over three years since Deathly Hallows came out and we found out how the series ended. Do you have the same reaction to the ending now, as you did then?
Well I must say, the first time I read ‘Deathly Hallows‘, I was too excited and nervous for the ending, so I probably skimmed-read it or something, and was very satisfied with the ending, including the epilogue. I know I have my ups and downs about the epilogue – some days I’ll love it and other days I won’t – but I think, now, although I was very sorry to see certain characters go (R.I.P. Moody, Dobby, Hedwig, Fred, Lupin and Tonks), I still love the conclusion of the story, and it was very neatly wrapped up. I’ve always thought (since I read ‘Deathly Hallows‘) that it was so well thought out, and just so clever!
OMG! DEATHLY HALLOWS! Loved it? Hated it? Thoughts!?
IT WAS AMAZING! Okay, I know obviously some people will hate it and others will adore it, but I thought, personally, that Yates did a far better job in this one than any other, and that they did justice to the book, even though they still left out so many scenes! The film really managed to encapsulate the cruelty of the Death Eaters and Voldemort, as well as creating the tension in the story-line and “what’s going to happen next” scenarios. The Harry/Hermione kiss was just EPIC – very good for Harry/Hermione shippers, just sayin’! – and the few lines and scenes that they added to the movie were also quite cute and/or worked really well with the movie. It was the best Potter film by far, especially in comparison to the last few ones where they missed out so much from the books! I’m watching it again this weekend with my family! 🙂
What was your favorite part that changed from the book? That stayed the same?
For me, I loved the Harry/Hermione dance, even though I certainly don’t ship them together, as it was such a sweet, beautiful little scene that really managed to portray their friendship and how the small things in life such as two friends dancing together in such dark times makes one feel better about themselves, and there’s a momentary happiness in the perilous atmosphere. OH, and before I forget, the ‘Tales of Beedle the Bard‘ animation was just, “OMG can’t even breathe”-worthy. It was so well done, and it wasn’t some crappy colourful cartoon (the alliteration was not intended) as I feared, but really managed to illustrate the actual story of the Three Brothers, and the ominous nature of Death, which is very important for the actual story-line. And… the 20-second clip of Neville being a bada** on the Hogwarts Express was pretty epic. THE LOCKET SCENE: I can’t even describe how I felt when I watched it, apart from the fact that I was crawling under my seat, it was so frightening and horrific, and yet beautiful at the same time: this scene was quite sublime to me, and I really enjoyed it! Even bigger and more terrible than I imagined it in the book, this and the Malfoy Manor scene were just … I actually can’t find a synonym for “super mega foxy awesome hot” (AVPM reference, anyone?!), so I’ll just stick with “adkjsngkfajdnkaj” to reflect my adoration for those two scenes in particular that they stuck very well to the book.
Comparing book to movie, What disappointed you the most? Also, what part was better than you expected?
Hmm, I must say, the absence of Lucius Malfoy’s peacock in the Malfoy mansion was a bit of a disappointment, as I was really looking forward to that … also, the Godric’s Hollow scene, while certainly worthy of the title “scaring the crap out of me”, didn’t have the flashback to Voldemort murdering Harry’s parents, which was so explicitly and well-described in the book, that I was SO hoping for it to be done just as well on-screen, but because they kind of did it in the first movie, I guess they couldn’t use the same actors/baby for this one, which was upsetting. Oh, and Fred’s line in the wedding “When I get married, I won’t put up with any of this nonsense … you can wear whatever you want” or something (not quite word-to-word to the book) didn’t turn up, which was kind of disappointing, as that line was so sad and heartbreaking in the book (you know … how he dies in the end, which is awfully tragic). Like I mentioned in the previous question, I really loved the Malfoy Manor scene, as that was done a LOT better than I expected (even though Dean Thomas’ absence was a trifle upsetting), as was the locket/Horcrux scene. The general horror and action of the story was really well conveyed in these two particular scenes, which I very much enjoyed, even though it was absolutely terrifyingly dark.
Now knowing where the split is, and feeling the way the movie ended, do you feel it was a good choice?
I really enjoyed the split, because it showed exactly what Voldemort was doing, his intentions, but the audience (who haven’t read the books) doesn’t know what he’s going to do with the Elder Wand, which leaves it at a cliff-hanger. I just wish I could watch the entire five-hour movie already!
Did the movie live up to all of the epic hype that surrounded each trailer?
I think it did; the movie was even better than all the hype that surrounded it! I don’t know, maybe I’m just on a Post-movie high right now, but I personally thought it was just WICKED, and though some parts were obviously left out, they did a much better job in this than in the last three, I reckon! My favourite scenes weren’t even in the trailers, so that’s pretty great for me! (Except for the Seven Harrys, which was just hilarious). Oh, and do the trio ever find out that Tonks is pregnant? That was a tad worrying.