Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I was so excited about the first half of the last movie coming out. I picked up the book to refresh my memory - remembered some, forgot some. Cari and I have always gone to the midnight release of the Harry Potter movies. After discussing the possibility of her not being able to come home on Thursday because of classes, she suggested I come to Harrisonburg so we could still go together. So, ... even though she was coming home on Friday after her classes, I drove four hours on Thursday to go to a movie. Yes, I know - but what can I say? It's tradition! The excitement had been mounting all week and by the time I got there we were stoked! Jocelyn went to dinner with us (O' Charley's), we picked up our advance tickets and fidgeted until we left a little after 10:00 for the theater. Thank goodness they didn't make us wait outside to get in because it was freakin' cold! I will have to say the time passed quickly. Finally the lights were dimmed and ... the previews began ... twenty minutes of previews! It was agonizing!

After a pretty fast three hours, it was all over. I had tried to figure out where they would end the movie - in the middle of the book. Surprisingly I thought it was perfect. I didn't think I'd like the ending no matter where or how they did it. I loved it. And seeing a movie at midnight with others as crazy as you are about the same thing is the only way to see the premier. That audience is simply the best. We all laughed, cried and clapped together as the story unfolded. So yes, I drove four hours there and four hours home to see a movie. But it was Harry Potter and it was with my daughter. Well worth my time and effort. (But I am thankful the last part comes out in the summer and she'll be home - LOL)

Visit with Cari

Mom and I went to see Cari last weekend. It was a beautiful drive up. Everything is budding and blooming. All the different shades of green were amazing! Of course Mom and I talked non-stop the entire way. We have to play catch-up whenever we finally do get together. It was lunch time by the time we arrived so O'Charlies was our first stop. By the time we got out of there and back to Cari's dorm it was about time to head to the percussion concert. It's fascinating watching such incredibly talented young people make music together with such simple instruments. We loved it!After the show I had to make time to stop and shoot some of these gorgeous cherry tree blossoms!! These are some of the pretties trees ever!

After dinner we decided to go see "Date Night." Mom never gets to go to a movie unless it's a kid movie. My vote is usually always something that will make me laugh. This one didn't disappoint us. Of course Mom and I fed off of each other. Her high pitched giggle makes me laugh and she says my laugh is contagious, so ... one or the other was laughing most of the time. I'll have to drag Bob to it before it's out of the theaters.

It's really hard to wrap my head around the fact that Cari will be home for the summer in about 2-1/2 weeks! I can't believe this year is gone. She'll start her third year in August! How did that happen?

"It's Complicated"

OK, this is seriously up at the top of my list for favorite movies!! The story makes for plenty of hilarious scenes and I laughed throughout most of it. The entire cast is just awesome and I loved how everyone in the theater was so into the movie. There was lots of laughter, clapping and commenting. Maybe the reason I loved that so much was because I didn't feel as obnoxious laughing so hard since the rest of the audience joined right in. I really wanted to go see it again while it was in the theater but time got away from me and it didn't happen. This will definitely be one of the movies I buy as soon as it's out on DVD. I want to own it and watch it over and over. It's up there in my top 5 pick - right along with My Cousin Vinny and both Fockers movies. :)

"Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince"

Cari and I have been going to the midnight madness celebrations since "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" was released in 2003. There is something special about being there sharing the excitement with everyone else. There is never a question as to whether or not we're going - it's a given. Yeah, we're tired the next day but it's so worth it. The closer the day and time got, the more excited I was. I re-read the book, so I'd remember more of the details I knew would be left out. And all in all, I really liked the movie. I was, however, disappointed in some of the changes that didn't seem to have a purpose. There were quite a few scenes I simply could not understand why they made the changes they did. And the major scene I had issues with is the one where the Burrow was burned down by Death Eaters - it does not exist in the book. ??? And I couldn't see the value of the scene. Was it supposed to tell the viewers who had not read the book something? I don't know. I couldn't figure it out. And how are they going to fix that for the beginning of the next book where there is a wedding at the Burrow? Magic I guess.

As always, the movie was awesome but it can't hold a candle to the book.