MessyCarla and the Deathly Hallows.

Hey everyone,

Well, Potterweek is finally here!
Co-inciding with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows me and my friend Natalie went to a Harry Potter quiz at the Tyneside Cinema earlier on in the week, and this is what I wore:

DRESS: Vintage.
CARDIGAN: Dorothy Perkins.
SCARF: Handmade.
NECKLACE: Dorothy Perkins.
BELT: New Look.
TIGHTS: Dorothy Perkins.
BOOTS: Fenwicks.
POINT OF FASHION: Hufflepuff.

This isn't the best picture of me in the whole wide world, because it was dark, drizzly, windy and I was in a hurry to meet Natalie. But I've just got to show off my lovely Hufflepuff scarf.

My mam (aka: Italian Catholic Mother) knitted it for me a few years ago, but it's so soft and cosy it's perfect for the winter. And great for showing Badger Pride!

The quiz was so much fun - I loved the geeky team names everybody had chosen: The Quidditch Queens, The Weasleys, S.P.E.W, God Hates Hufflepuffs (I booed them!), The Chudley Cannons...yeah, Harry Potter fans really are a different breed of people aren't we?

Themed cocktails were also served.
I had Infusion of Gurdyroot, which was vodka, Midori, Blue Curacao and cranberry juice:

Yummmmmm!

Natalie had a Felix Felicis (vodka, butterscotch liquer and lemonade), and a Gillywater (vodka, creme de menthe, creme de cacao, butterscotch and milk) but neither of us were brave enough to try Firewhisky (bourbon and tabasco sauce).
Completely alcohol-free versions were available too, which was a nice touch.

We came sixth out of fifteen teams, which I don't think was too bad seeing as neither of us has read the books in about a year, and there was only the two of us!


I'm actually not long back from seeing the new film.
I've already tweeted a few of my thoughts, but if you'd like to read my two cents, just highlight the white text below.
(Yes, there are spoilers - and apologies if my thoughts are a bit scrabbled, I've only been back from the screening a few hours and wanted to get everything down before I forget.)

I solomnly swear I am up to no good...

Visually, it’s a gorgeous film – the cinematography of lonely beaches and abandoned forests are bleak, but stunning and reflect the mood of the characters.

The Ministry of Magic scenes are fantastic – and are the crux (or should that be HORcrux? Oh shut up, Carla.) of the action scenes which unlike the others films are far between.

You can tell most of the action scenes were originally prepared for 3D, notably the chase scene with ‘the seven Potters’, and with Nagini the snake, so I found these do fall a little flat – especially in comparison to the rollercoaster-esque opening scenes of The Half Blood Prince.

I also adored the animated scene, with the Tale of the Three Brothers being told shadow puppet style.

Out of all the films, for me it’s one which follows the book pretty much gospel.
But as such, lots of characters are introduced at once, which could be pretty difficult to follow if you haven’t read the books. For example, the characters of Gregorovitch and Grindleward are not explained very well, nor why Bathilda Bagshot turns into a snake.

Unlike the other films, I like that they keep the little scenes in – such as in the ambush in the Muggle café, which I suppose is one of the perks of the story being sliced in half.
As in the books, it’s a constant reminder than nowhere is safe – even the Muggle world is well and truly infiltrated.

All being said, I am glad there are two parts, as the cliff-hanger at the end is a brilliant choice (rumours were it was originally going to end when the trio are captured by the Snatchers), and it does pull you in for Part Two.
It just makes me wonder if people who aren’t completely entranced by the Potterworld will be able to remember all the little pointers that link to the bigger story.

The film does try to pick up repeatedly in the middle – but it doesn’t quite live up to the excitement at the start.
Rupert Grint does supply some comic timing, which is well received after long drawn out shots of Harry looking pensive into the distance.

Deathly Hallows was always going to be a difficult one to make into a movie, as it’s very character driven, and there are large portions of the book where nothing much happens.
This is pretty difficult to transfer to screen, and I could definitely hear fidgeting from kids (I went to the 5pm showing) all the way through.

I mentioned on Twitter that I thought the whole thing was a bit of an anti-climax, and this quote from the Guardian pretty much sums up my thoughts: “Deathly Hallows looks great, in the way that a show home looks great.”
...Mischief managed!

I would like to point out as well, that I was sat beside two utter cretins who ate massive packets of popcorn and chewed so loud I felt like I was sharing an aisle with Mr Ed.
So I’d like to dedicate my surly mood while watching the film, to them. Hmmph!




So how many of you guys here are Potternuts?
Have you stayed with Harry until the very end...or is it well and truly time for Hogwarts to close the doors to their hallowed halls?


Muchos love,
MessyCarla.

PS: Oh, and for you local lovelies - there's another quiz on at the Tyneside Cinema tomorrow at 2pm especially for children and families. Check the website for more details.