New Twist: I'm the Half-Blood Princess

As you may already know, I love Harry Potter.  I'm talking the Cardinals and my Blazer kind of love.  It's that extreme.

I am that girl at every midnight premier.  I've read all the books more than once.  (The first few several times because I would reread them all every time a new book would come out.)  I have played Harry Potter with my nephew more times than I can count.  I just love Harry Potter.

I love it because I'm in awe of JK Rowling's ability to create an entire world.  I love it because it has simple and innocent themes that resonate.  I love it because it gets better and older and darker as it's characters do, and just as life does.  I love it because it got kids (and adults) excited to read and talk about what they were reading and exercise their own creativity.

But I think mainly I love it because, across 7 years now and 9 book/movie premiers, the entire series has provided me with a wide range of wonderful memories with a wide range of people I love.  

I first started reading HP right before the first movie came out in 2002.  My best friend from high school, Trina, was the only person I knew who read the books.  They weren't quite as popular in the states then as they are now and were still kind of considered children's books.  But I'm normally willing to read almost any book someone gushes about, and she really wanted me to go see the movie with her which I would not do without reading the book.  Hence, I read the first book.

Trina's mom camped out to get us tickets on opening day of the movie and we went immediately after school to see it.  

I was hooked.

Only the first 4 books were out then.  I have so many more memories from the premiers of the rest of the books/movies.  Dressing up to see the 5th movie a couple of summers ago.  Just weeks before, going at midnight to buy the last book and reading straight through to the next day so no one could ruin it for me.  Fun times with Trina, Paige, Bryce, Rachel, Kelly and more and more people.  Connecting with random strangers.

I love Harry Potter.

Last night's premier was another one to add to the books.  Liz, Kaleb and I made the trek to AMC Mainstreet for the 12:30 show.  After going crazy with excitement watching the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are, we settled in for the show.  I was loving it.  I think they did such an incredible job, once again, bringing things to life and staying fairly true to the books.  I got teary-eyed when the Burrow burned down.  I laughed a lot at Lavender and Luna.  I got really excited for the teenage hook-ups.

Then the dramatic part.  Dumbledore and Harry headed to the cave to look for the Horcrux.  They get across the lake in the boat, they find the potion, Dumbledore begins to drink, Harry starts shouting, and then.... black screen.  

That's right, the projector overheated and went out with about 15 minutes of the movie left.  People were legitimately pissed.  It was already 3 AM at this point and everyone wanted to finish the movie.  Badly.

But there was apparently nothing they could do, so they sent us home with free tickets.  (I was hoping for a cash refund since I had used my free tickets already to get in.)  I was pretty upset, but let's be for real, I was already planning on seeing it more than once anyway.  Also, it was pretty funny to see how bold people will become when mob mentality sets in.  No one is shy about shouting out mean things to the theater workers who clearly have no control over the projector functioning when comforted by the anonymity of the crowd.  I love it.

I'm thinking I'll go see it again in imax.  Who's with me?

P.S.  I didn't get to see the end, but I think Malfoy's acting stole the show in this one.  He broke my heart and I have previously loathed him.  Well done.  And young Voldemort?  Creepy.