Emily (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
whoisthemonster) wrote2011-07-15 03:48 am
whoisthemonster) wrote2011-07-15 03:48 am
Entry tags:
Nothing Ended Tonight
I just posted this on facebook, but I guess I'll put it here, too. :)
So, on Wednesday night I wrote a note on livejournal about the end of Harry Potter. It was a long winded essay of sorts about how the series had affected me in the past and why I was so sad to see it go. At the time of my writing it, I was very worried about how I'd react to the final movie. I knew I would cry, but I had no idea how I would feel afterwords. However, at the time, there's no way I could have known I would have felt like this.
I feel, in no way different now than I did when I got there (except, of course, I'm slightly more tired and a lot less nervous).
I don't feel like anything has ended. There is no irreplacable hole in me. My childhood as I know it, has not suddenly ended in a blinding flash. No. I'm actually very okay.
At first I didn't know why this was. I saw people cry over this experience and I was there for a lot of people through it, but somehow I just didn't feel it. I felt like a bad fan. Like I obviously didn't care enough if it meant I wasn't sobbing uncontrollably through the whole movie and after.
But, upon reflection, I think I understand.
I'm going to take you through a scene that DID make me cry, in the hopes I can explain what I'm feeling. If you haven't seen the movie yet, feel free to skip.
In the forest, when Harry sees his parents and gaurdians, I lost it. I knew I would. I did in the book too. However, this felt different than in the book. In the book, this moment felt very final. It was the moment when Harry was to go die. So, when James Potter imfamously said, "We're with you. Until the very end." I couldn't handle it. To me, it felt like he meant until the end of the series. Until Harry either dies or moves on. Like, Harry Potter was THERE but only if the story wasn't over yet.
The movie didn't make me feel this way. When James said, "Until the end." it finally clicked for me what that could mean. This movie, this experience tonight, is not the end. It was never meant to be the end. Just because the final pages have been turned, and the final scenes watched, doesn't mean it's over.
James, as well as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Fred, George, Lupin, Sirius, Sanpe, Dumbledore and everyone else you've come to love and connect with will stay with us until the end (whatever that end may be). After all, as Sirius said what seems like a long time ago, "The ones we love never truly leave us".
If anything, all this movie does is give us a complete story. Not finished but complete. Now, we have all of their experiences as well as all of those we've had with them to look back on. If anything, I think that's amazing.
The last scene in the movie was also very emotional for me. Harry, Ron and Hermione are done at Hogwarts. Their adventures there are over, just as our first experience with the story must come to a close. Yet, Hogwarts lives on, and children do still go to it. We have every opportunity to pick up the books again or have another marathon or get caught up in yet another argument about who the best Marauder is or who should have gotten together with whom. The only person stopping you from having that opportunity is you. So why stop yourself? Why tell yourself it's the end of an era, the end of your childhood, the end of something that you can never give back?
After all, JKR did say at the final premiere, "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."
So, no. I'm not sad. I'm not sitting here bawling my eyes out. Because Harry Potter never really over as long as there are those who are loyal to it, and loyal to him.
Besides, there's always the next generation. I know I'm going to expose my children and as many other children as possible to Harry Potter. That way, the story will carry on and Harry Potter can be around for a long time to come.
So, on Wednesday night I wrote a note on livejournal about the end of Harry Potter. It was a long winded essay of sorts about how the series had affected me in the past and why I was so sad to see it go. At the time of my writing it, I was very worried about how I'd react to the final movie. I knew I would cry, but I had no idea how I would feel afterwords. However, at the time, there's no way I could have known I would have felt like this.
I feel, in no way different now than I did when I got there (except, of course, I'm slightly more tired and a lot less nervous).
I don't feel like anything has ended. There is no irreplacable hole in me. My childhood as I know it, has not suddenly ended in a blinding flash. No. I'm actually very okay.
At first I didn't know why this was. I saw people cry over this experience and I was there for a lot of people through it, but somehow I just didn't feel it. I felt like a bad fan. Like I obviously didn't care enough if it meant I wasn't sobbing uncontrollably through the whole movie and after.
But, upon reflection, I think I understand.
I'm going to take you through a scene that DID make me cry, in the hopes I can explain what I'm feeling. If you haven't seen the movie yet, feel free to skip.
In the forest, when Harry sees his parents and gaurdians, I lost it. I knew I would. I did in the book too. However, this felt different than in the book. In the book, this moment felt very final. It was the moment when Harry was to go die. So, when James Potter imfamously said, "We're with you. Until the very end." I couldn't handle it. To me, it felt like he meant until the end of the series. Until Harry either dies or moves on. Like, Harry Potter was THERE but only if the story wasn't over yet.
The movie didn't make me feel this way. When James said, "Until the end." it finally clicked for me what that could mean. This movie, this experience tonight, is not the end. It was never meant to be the end. Just because the final pages have been turned, and the final scenes watched, doesn't mean it's over.
James, as well as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Fred, George, Lupin, Sirius, Sanpe, Dumbledore and everyone else you've come to love and connect with will stay with us until the end (whatever that end may be). After all, as Sirius said what seems like a long time ago, "The ones we love never truly leave us".
If anything, all this movie does is give us a complete story. Not finished but complete. Now, we have all of their experiences as well as all of those we've had with them to look back on. If anything, I think that's amazing.
The last scene in the movie was also very emotional for me. Harry, Ron and Hermione are done at Hogwarts. Their adventures there are over, just as our first experience with the story must come to a close. Yet, Hogwarts lives on, and children do still go to it. We have every opportunity to pick up the books again or have another marathon or get caught up in yet another argument about who the best Marauder is or who should have gotten together with whom. The only person stopping you from having that opportunity is you. So why stop yourself? Why tell yourself it's the end of an era, the end of your childhood, the end of something that you can never give back?
After all, JKR did say at the final premiere, "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."
So, no. I'm not sad. I'm not sitting here bawling my eyes out. Because Harry Potter never really over as long as there are those who are loyal to it, and loyal to him.
Besides, there's always the next generation. I know I'm going to expose my children and as many other children as possible to Harry Potter. That way, the story will carry on and Harry Potter can be around for a long time to come.