So like half the western world, I too went to see the first half of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this weekend. I agree with those critics that say true fans will enjoy it and that those who aren't will probably not. As I've been sitting on the fence with the whole franchise, the Deathly Hallows was my sorting hat. As it turns out, I'm not a fan. I found the whole plot silly, dizzying and a whole lot of who caresidy. Ralph Fiennes was great, Helena Bonham Carter was good as Helena Bonham Carter, but as highlights go, that's about it. Without Hogwarts, what's the point? In all honesty, I'll go see the next one, but only to make sure it's over, I swear.In the meantime, caught up in all the hype, I also read the unnamed Harry Potter prequel this weekend. An 800 word story written by Rowling for the Waterstone's "What's Your Story?" charity benefit, it's now all over the web. You can read it here, if you like.
It's little more than an insignificant adventure starring Sirius Black and Harry's dad James in their wild years, but it's not without its charm, even if the opening sentence did seem anti-climatic...
The speeding motorcycle took the sharp corner so fast in the darkness that both policemen in the pursuing car shouted,”Whoa!”It gets better, though it's not a highly developed piece. Its charm lies in viewing the magical world through the eyes of a couple of muggle police officers, inexperienced in the world of magic. You can almost relive some of the old charm as when Harry's new world was new to us, and to Harry himself, in the Philosopher's Stone. Almost. At the very least, closer than the Deathly Hallows movie, an amazingly unmagical movie about magic.
(Did you write a post for Short Story Monday? If so, please leave a link in the comments below.)
3 comments:
Call me stubborn, but have neither watched nor read any Harry Potter...
I was a bit lazy this Monday and didn't write a review but shared a few links instead: http://emeire.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/lazy-short-story-monday/
Em
I read the first Harry Potter book and realll enjoyed it. Partly because it was something my niece and I enjoyed discussing together. However, I didn't even finish the second book. I found it pretty much the same as the first, with similar events and plot. It was too repetitious for me.
I read Sweet Dreams by Sherry Isaac, with your recommendation: http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2010/11/sweet-dreams-by-sherry-isaac.html
I'm actually intrigued by the idea of the prequel and shall be back to read it.
I still plan to see the Deathly Hallows though...
Post a Comment