About a little over twenty-four hours ago, I sat in a very comfortable leather seat, watching the first minutes of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II. Adrenaline rushed through me; I was so excited. I had been waiting in line with my friend since 4:30 in the afternoon. The show was at 12:01 AM.
We continued our journey where we left off since part I last November. Harry, Ron, and Hermione was burying Dobby at Shell Cottage; Voldemort breaking into Dumbledore's last resting place and took the Elder Wand. It couldn't be any more devastating and hopeless.
I was worried how the screenplay and the direction of the second part would go. Everything had to be perfect. Or at least as perfect as possible since so many information came out into the light during the second part. Not to mention, the quick paced battle scenes and the emotional turmoils that each character had to experience. Everyone accepted the sacrifices and the pain. To me, there were several emotional scenes from the book that I wanted the movie to capture.
Aberforth Dumbledore's story regarding his brother Albus. Even if that scene was shortened due to time restrains, I wanted the dialogue between Aberforth and Harry to be in there. Readers would know that this is where Aberforth claims that with Ariana's death, Albus was free of his responsibilities to his siblings. Harry informs Aberforth that Albus was never free. And Harry himself had witnessed the demons that terrorized Albus that night in the cave. I was disappointed when that scene wasn't there. It was so emotional for me to read it in the book and it explained what Albus had gone through and had seen while under the influence of Voldemort's poison in the cave.
Severus Snape's death and his tale. I cried when I read this in the book. After Half-Blood Prince, readers were fervent to know which side Snape is on. Many believed that he was Dumbledore's man, many believed that he was once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. However, Snape's memories told us of a deeper story: Snape's reason for doing what he did, the sacrifices that he chose to make, his inner turmoil. Of all the scenes, I wanted this scene to be perfect. It was, to me, a very climatic scene. Not only did it tell Harry what he needed to do, it proved Snape's unwavering allegiance to Dumbledore...all because of something Voldemort never, ever understood: Love. Snape's love for Lily Potter, unwavering, undying. irrevocable. Alan Rickman did a wonderful, if not, brilliant job portraying Snape in the scenes of his memories. I was in tears. And I wasn't the only one. All around me in the theater, I could hear people sniffling. I think the part where I spilled the most tears was when Snape made his way up the staircase in the Potter's home (I know this isn't in the book, but I don't think it mattered much since it showed so much of Snape's love, pain, and loss). He held the dead body of Lily in his arms and there was so much love and pain in his movements and expressions that one can feel it. I applaud Alan Rickman and if I can, I would give him an Oscar on that scene alone. The scene that I had put so much expectations on, had far exceeded my expectations.
Harry in the forest with his parents. This was a tearjerker for me as well. Once the dam breaks, everything sort of flows out regardless of how much you try to hold the water back. I think the part that made me cry the most was when Harry told Remus that he didn't want him to die, to leave young Teddy. It made me cry so much because there were scenes before that during the movie of Remus and Tonks, reaching for each other before a battle, and then before Harry went to the forest, he saw their bodies next to each other. Other than that, I found that this scene lived up to my expectations as well. Emotional, like how it was written.
Narcissa Malfoy. I'll say it. The woman is amazing. I love how she just stared at Voldemort in the face and lied to him about Harry being dead without flinching. She was a mother on a mission and there was nothing that would stop her from getting to her son. I also love how when the battle between Harry and Voldemort began back at the castle, Narcissa simply marched her son out of there, without looking back.
Mrs. Weasley. Another mother on a mission. And of course, the screenwriter Steve Kloves lived up to my expectations on this scene because he included the famous Mrs. Weasley's "not my daughter, bitch". And it also managed to capture that arrogance of Bellatrix Lestrange and how she underestimated Mrs. Weasley, laughing as she was attacked...much like her cousin, Sirius. Although Bellatrix's demise in the movie shocked me to no end. Poof.
Harry vs. Voldemort battle. It was quicker than I thought. I had assumed that Harry would explain everything to Voldemort and they'd be doing that standoff thing where they circle each other, like how it was described in the book. However, in the movie, they both took no time. And they also got some action fight before the actual ending battle. There were a lot of things that Harry didn't say to Voldemort. But, if he did, the movie would probably stretched another fifteen minutes, which I could hardly mind since I believe this movie was the shortest of all the Harry Potter movies! So, I was a bit disappointed with the very minimal dialogue. Not to mention Harry didn't explain to Voldemort how the spells he cast aren't working because Harry had made his sacrifice to protect everyone. I thought that bit was quite important and it shouldn't have been left out. As for Voldemort's demise, much like Bellatrix...poof. Only with a bit more...strangeness.
As for the epilogue, all I cared for was how adorable Harry's children are. Especially Lily and Albus. Albus Severus Potter is simply adorable.
Overall, even with the elements that are missing, I think the movie truly exceeds my expectations. While the first part of Deathly Hallows was slow and rather relaxing to watch, the second part was fast, emotional, and highly charged. Harry Potter made up my childhood and I literally grew up with it. In 1999, when I was 9, was when I first came upon it. In 2007, when I was 17, the tale that changed a whole generation of children ended. That was nearly a decade. A whole decade if I had read the book when it first came out in 1997. The first Harry Potter movie debut in 2001. The last ended yesterday, in 2011. That was a decade. That was my generation. I will be proud to one day tell my children and grandchildren Harry's story, to have him and the characters that we have come to both love and hate, be part of their generation as well. And anyways, like my best friend said, by the time of my children or grandchildren, there would probably be remakes with exceptional cinema quality. But of course, no one would ever forget the last ten years.
Corner Tip #28: Harry's journey might officially end, but there's really no reason to let him go. There's Pottermore, there are fan fictions, there are movies you can rewatch, and of course, you can always start Harry's journey again by picking up that worn out book of Sorcerer's Stone that you have read so many times already.
This past weekend was considered the movie weekend for me. Actually, July was the movie month for me. I've never been to three movies in a month before or watched two movies on one weekend before. Lame, I know, but hey, movies costs money! Anyways, on Saturday, I went to watch Cowboys and Aliens. I love Harrison Ford as an actor, especially playing the role of an adventurer. Honestly, can you imagine Harrison Ford playing any other role besides the rough and tough guy who has a heroic heart? Maybe he can, but I've just never seen him in such roles before. As for Daniel Craig...he's Daniel Craig. He was great as James Bond, but I always thought any actor who took on the role of James Bond was awesome, so that must mean I love James Bond and not necessarily the actor that portrayed him. Anyways, down with the gist. I thought the plotline was a bit odd. And when the trailer first came out, I said, "WTF." It has the same plotline as any alien take-over: aliens coming to earth to destroy humanity and humans bound together, forget their differences to fight against the aliens. Why this movie makes me laugh more than the others? Well, these cowboys and Native Americans fight the aliens using pistols, rifles, and arrows. There have been countless moments during the movie where I sit there and go, "oh my God, it's amazing how they're still alive." And it is amazing how they survive. Olivia Wilde played the role as a creepy alien perfectly...she creeped my friend out. I was rather sad when I saw her character died, especially with Daniel Craig as her opposite, but who doesn't die when they love James Bond. Hahaha.
Corner Tip #28: Harry's journey might officially end, but there's really no reason to let him go. There's Pottermore, there are fan fictions, there are movies you can rewatch, and of course, you can always start Harry's journey again by picking up that worn out book of Sorcerer's Stone that you have read so many times already. 
Cassiopeia Vitt needed Malone's help in thwarting the plans of Irina Zovastina, Supreme Minister of the Central Asian Federation. Obsessed with Greek history, especially with the conquests of Alexander the Great and the epic stories of Achilles, Zovastina wanted to take over the Middle East, much like what Alexander the Great had done over two thousands years ago. And she's planning to do it using biological warfare. Unlike many despotic rulers, Zovastina was loved by her people, however, leaders of other nations knew that she holds power and continues to want more. Gaining control of western Asia is one of her obsession, but finding the tomb of Alexander the Great was another obsession. Definitely a thriller.
In this novel, we meet new characters as well as our old, friendly, clever characters. We meet Cotton Malone's wife and son, Pam and Gary. We're taken into the story with Pam showing up at her husband's Copenhagen home to tell him that someone kidnapped their son, and unless Malone give them the Alexandria Link, they would kill Gary. However, things are never as simple as it seems and Gary Malone's kidnapping was merely a ruse for something much more sinister. Something that would affect the entire western world. Unlike The Templar Legacy, in which there was only one side to the battle, this book contains three fronts of battle, therefore three head antagonists. While Malone and his wife travel with a man (antagonist number 1) to find the Library of Alexandria, Stephanie Nelle (a character we have met in the previous book, head of the Magellan Billet from the Justice Department of the U.S.) and Cassiopeia Vitt (my favorite Spanish sharpshooter with keen eyes, great mind, and a love for classical and ancient things) are in Washington D.C. trying to unravel a plot that would affect the top level of government and destabilize the world (antagonist numero dos). Nelle and Vitt has to move about as spies and play a game of espionage, having the first rule being who to trust. If readers are like me, trying to guess which person our favorite female leads should trust, you'll be at the edge of your seat until the end. Not everything is what it seems or sounds. The last front is from Henrik Throvaldsen and Gary Malone, who are in Vienna, trying to figure out what the Blue Chair, the leader of the Order of the Golden Fleece, was trying to do (antagonist number c). They come upon a great conspiracy that begs us to dryly ask the question: what would one do for power.
Berry introduces us to his protagonist, Cotton Malone, a former agent of the U.S. Justice Department, who retired to Copenhagen to open his own bookstore. While waiting to meet his former boss, Stephanie Nelle, Malone raced after a man who had snatched Nelle's purse. Unknown to him, the purse snatcher was not whom he seemed to be and with that encounter, Malone couldn't help but wonder what situation Nelle was caught up in. In following Nelle, Malone managed to get himself caught into the action, and eventually decided that he needed to help Nelle since she was being pursuit by men who sought her late husband's journal. We soon learn that Nelle's husband was seeking to unfold the mystery of the Templar before he died and Nelle had came to Europe more out of regret than to try to figure things out. However, unknown to her and the close characters around her, their destinies had been set out by the late master of Abbey des Fontaines in France. In the course of their journey, they met both friends and adversaries. Their one challenge was Raymond de Rouquefort, once marshal of the Abbey des Fontaines, now currently master of the abbey (he gained this position through a series of policies and votes that would make more sense if you read the book). de Rouqefort tried to hunt down what is called the Great Devise, some proof that would vindicate the brothers of the abbey and bring their reputation into light again after the crown of France and Catholic Church had hunted the thirteenth century brothers down. Apparently, the brothers, called the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, are directly connected to the infamous Templar Knights. The brothers themselves are considered Templars, even to the present day. This thriller, is basically a race to seek out a long hidden treasure that was considered so great that it could change the course of history. It has a mix of historical investigation, espionage, personal sacrifices, etc.