Random EPICness

Harry Potter and the Minor Differences

I’ve watched Deathly Hallows part 2 twice now. It was an EPIC movie and a great ending to the series. Filled with epic battles and emotional scenes. The movie took a lot of liberties with the book though, changed some scenes, added new ones, removed some. But I thought that almost all those changes were the right choices and actually made the movie better.

(Spoilers ahead!)

• Ollivander knew about the Deathly Hallows. In the book he didn’t. But I understand the reason behind the change. Someone had to remind the audience what the Deathly Hallows were. Part 1 was 8 months ago!
• The Aberforth-Dumbledore-Ariana tragic story wasn’t fully mentioned. It’s fine for me. Those were extra information not really adding to the plot anyway (in the context of the movie).
• Extended Chamber of Secrets scene where Ron and Hermione destroyed the cup. I think this was a great addition. I was pleasantly surprised when they showed that scene. And I actually think the kiss taking place just after they destroyed it instead alone in the Chamber is actually better than the version in the book.
• Voldemort and Harry feels whenever a Horcrux is destroyed. In the book, neither of them knows when a Horcrux is destroyed. They don’t feel a thing. I guess the movie tried to make each destruction of a Horcrux dramatic and eventful. Plus it’s a way of explaining that those are parts of Voldemort’s souls and that each Horcrux destroyed makes him more vulnerable.
• The Prince’s Tale. This is the only part I was a bit disappointed with. I don’t mind the movie showing Snape at Gordric’s Hollow after Harry’s parent’s were murdered (it’s not in the book). Snape hugging Lily was a nice heartstrings-pulling touch. I’m just a bit disappointed that they omitted all the Snape and Lily parts at Hogwarts. It’s more complicated than Snape-loves-Lily-but-Lily-chooses-James. All those parts about how he hated and envied James Potter and those arguments with Lily were never explored in the movie. Also, nitpicking a bit too much but I just wished the part where Snape angrily yells at Dumbledore “FOR HIM!!? EXPECTO PATRONUM!” could have been done a bit better. I always imagined him screaming that line in pain and anguish before he said that sad famous word, “Always”.
• No Dumbledore portrait giving Snape instructions in the movie. I actually liked this. I’ve always felt that a talking, intelligent portrait giving instructions after the person has died was kind of a plot hole. So it was good that the movie removed that. Only slight problem is of course, now we don’t know how Snape knew to leave the Sword of Griffindor at the forest, or how he found their location in the first place.
• The Diadem was destroyed by a Basilisk fang instead of in the fire. This is a great alteration. You know why? Because I’ve always thought that Crabbe being able to cast a spell which could destroy Horcruxes was also plot hole. Seriously? Crabbe can cast a spell Hermione can’t? However dark the magic is, Hermione should know if Crabbe can cast it.
• Harry announcing to Hermione and Ron that he was going to face Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest instead of sneaking out. Fine by me. Although, not wearing the cloak meant that he didn’t have all 3 Deathly Hallows when he faced Voldemort, right?
• Harry leaped out of Hagrid and stopped feigning death in front of everyone. Not a big deal for me.
• No Centaurs! I actually wanted to see the Centaurs tho. There were the spiders and giants but no centaurs joining the fight. Oh well.
• Extended/slightly different Neville killing Nagini scene. I liked the movie version better.
• The Harry and Voldemort fight. Again I liked the movie version more. It was epic. In the book, they were fighting inside the hall with everyone watching (and strangely not doing anything to help). Here it’s just by themselves, how it should be. And Voldemort exploded instead of a body remaining. Well, who cares, the movie version is more dramatic!
• Harry breaks the Elder Wand in half. Don’t mind him destroying it. I just wished he had repaired his old wand first though. Does that mean he continued using Draco’s wand?

I know there are a few other things I have missed but this is all I can think of for now. Overall, yes the movie changed some things but most of them were understandable and some of them actually improved on the book.