To thank all of the great contributors in this week’s edition of The Weekly Prophet, Signal editors decided to share their own Harry Potter memories and feelings about the upcoming film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.”
I identify with the cast of the Harry Potter movies. Although I would choose the books over the films any day of the week, it seems to me that the Harry Potter books preceded me by just a few years — Potter flew (on his Nimbus 2000) under the radar for a few years before I picked up the books in seventh grade. In contrast, I had the voyeuristic pleasure of watching Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint clumsily stumble on set, mature as actors and grow old with me.
— Todd Petty
I have not read one word of any Harry Potter book. But I have seen almost every movie. I am not ready to shut down my schedule and set a time to sit in a theater full of people who know what is going to happen already, but in a few weeks, if I am bored and my friends want to go, I wouldn’t mind seeing some wizard peril. Also, I’m a big fan of Dobby, because he rhymes with Bobby. I hope nothing bad happens to him …
— Bobby Olivier
When I was ten, I wanted to fake a british accent in order to audition for Hermione in the first Harry Potter film. Emma Watson does a way better job, but I still hope she knows that Ron Weasley is my man.
— Hilarey Wojtowicz
When I was young my mom bought me the first Harry Potter book. I read the first page and didn’t get any further than that. Many years later, the cultural phenomenon has made many happy, sad, laugh, cry ... anything and everything. I’m happy for them. With the new movie coming out, I hope they enjoy it. I’m too far detached to know what’s going on. But that movie poster does look pretty menacing.
— Jeffrey Roman
I’m a big fan of the Harry Potter books, but I’m not wild about the movies. I feel like they don’t do Ginny justice. She’s supposed to be fun. This ‘Bonnie Wright’ character - she’s not fun. When I was 11, I read a short feature about her in my American Girl magazine. I was underwhelmed. The Ginny I imagine is vivacious, adventuresome and keeps Harry Potter on his toes. The movie Ginny seems demure, not spunky. She looks the part with her red hair, but just looking the part isn’t enough. That would make her more Lockhart than Lupin. And everybody knows who’d win in that battle.
— Emily Brill
I loved “The Sorcerer’s Stone,” but the “Harry Potter” series lost me after book four. Some say I quit just before the books hit their stride; Todd Petty says I “pulled out half way through.” I saw the sixth film when I had nothing better to do last Halloween. If I’m bored enough, I just might give the seventh a chance, though I can’t promise I’ll make it through both two-plus-hour-long parts.
— Matt Huston
There are few things I love more than Harry Potter. Actually, I’m pretty sure Disney is the only thing that beats the boy wizard in my book (and the Yankees are a close third). Harry Potter consumed my childhood (for the full story on that, hop on your Firebolt and head to page 19) and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. My excitement level for this movie is in the stratosphere, but I’m also afraid of the end and all of the tears I already know I’ll shed. But, you can bet I’ll be in a movie theater, poised and ready at 12:01 a.m. this Friday!
— Caroline Russomanno
