HARRY POTTER!

Today Drew and I went to see Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1- or, as I was expecting from the book, Harry Potter Walks Around The Forest For Way Too Long. As the first half of a jam-packed story, I wasn't expecting a whole lot. But the whole walking-around-the-forest section ended up being one of the best bits of the movie - it allowed the relationships between Harry, Ron, and Hermione to shine. They play up the tension caused by the three teens' new responsibilities, as well as underscore the deep friendship (and budding romance) among them. And no, I'm not just talking about the much-hyped makeout scene...

The insistent drumbeat of the mission got a little lost from time to time, and without making explicit Harry's decision to pursue the Horcruxes instead of the Hallows, the "ending" falls a little flat. But appearances by always-fantastic characters like Umbridge, Luna, and the Weasley family, as well as top-notch action scenes (as always) had me leaving the theatre very satisfied. Now I've just got to wait eight more months for the Battle of Hogwarts!

Speaking of Harry Potter, check out this post, profiling what you might call the Muggle version of S.P.E.W. or Dumbledore's Army. And they say fantasy is just escapist fiction with no ties to the real world!