Stupefy.

This is the beginning of the end. With the first part of the final Harry Potter film now in cinemas, I'm really quite sad. After all, I grew up with Harry; I was 11 when he was 11, and as a series it has dominated the noughties all over the world. The Harry Potter craze is unbelievable, but, in my opinion, well worth the hype.

On Friday, my day began in the best way possible, with a 10:30am viewing of The Deathly Hallows. I had pre-booked my seats a decade ago, although I was a tad upset when Empire released earlier viewings to the one I'd booked (the 10:30 had, at the time of booking, been the first viewing). You see I'm so sad I had wanted to get there first and be the first of my friends to see it! But unfortunately this was not the case. Nevertheless, my Metro journey into town was one of anticipation, and we got there in good time to fit in a pre-cinema hot dog and snacks. What a delightful breakfast. The cinema was actually really full, which I hadn't expected with school times and the standard 9-5, but then again my lovely boy did take half a day's holiday to come and watch it with me, and so I figure there must be others as sad as us out there...

And the film was amazing. For the first time, I felt it was completely true to the book. And the thing is, I haven't read The Deathly Hallows since its publication, so it's not like it was all fresh in my mind. But the film was exactly how I remembered it. Nothing had been omitted, which is why I really appreciate the fact that the film is in two parts. In an interview, Daniel Radcliffe had said that if they'd tried to do it in one film, they would have had to completely rewrite the script in order for it to make sense, which wouldn't have done the Potter series any justice at all. However, as much as I still believe this was the correct way to go about filming the final book, I was left feeling so frustrated at the end of Part 1. It was amazing, yet I just wanted to see the rest of it! Which is obviously the idea; the film ends with Voldemort's acquisition of the Elder wand. Suddenly the lights came on, and I was left with that sinking, frustrated feeling that I was going to have to wait 7 months for the next installment. I wanted to stamp my feet and shout NO at the top of my voice! The film was thrilling, and often I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation. To have the ending suddenly taken from me felt like I'd had Aladdin's magic carpet swiped from under my feet.

However, regardless of the frustrating wait, I feel I need to press actually how good the film is. Whereas I hate the opening of the Prisoner of Azkaban, it seeming unnecessarily dark, The Deathly Hallows has the perfect balance between the ominous and the humourous. One of my favourite scenes in the film was right at the beginning, when the polyjuice potion created several Harry's; one being Fleur De La Cour, and the audience was treated to a viewing of Daniel Radcliffe in a lacy bra... The Potter films have never really taken the humourous route in the past, but with the final film the funny scenes serve to only highlight how much work and effort has gone into this one.

I loved it so much, I'm going to see it again on Tuesday (hello discounted tickets courtesy of Empire's cheaper Tuesday deal). I could genuinely watch it again and again. You see, like Matilda (which I have been known to watch four times in one day...), I could never get bored of Harry. I have seen each film more times than I can remember; I have read each book, and will re-read them again and again. Me and my boy frequently disagree on film choice, yet somehow the Harry Potter's are the only ones we ever agree on. And so, with daily disagreements, Harry is always the simplest and easiest way to please both parties. And my dear boy hasn't even read the books! I keep insisting that he does, but whether I am eventually successful is another thing altogether... The thing about Harry Potter that appeals to us more than anything is the fact that it's a complete other world that allows for complete escapism. And minus the ever-impending threat from the oh-so powerful Voldemort, I really wish it was real. Hogwarts makes any child or even adult wish they had been a witch or wizard, and I genuinely wish I was a witch! I certainly felt that way when I donned my graduation robes. That way, I would have been able to visit Hogsmeade and go to Honeyduke's to buy chocolate frogs, and visited Diagon Alley to buy my wand and get myself a nice pet owl. The wizarding world of Hogwarts (again, minus Voldemort) is so much more exciting than everyday life. Why, you'd never need to walk anywhere again, as you could either fly, disapparate or travel via Floo network. All are more preferable than the half an hour daily walk I have to get to town...

I feel I need to stop wishing I was a witch before I actually start to get a bit morose. On another somewhat depressing note, I'm really going to miss the Harry Potter series once Part Two is finally released. Because after that, there'll be nothing else to look forward to from the world of Hogwarts. At least at the minute, we still have the final film to look forward to (even if the wait is a bit annoying!) Because once all has been filmed and the series has been laid to rest, all I'll have are my nostalgic memories from my camping holidays in France with my father, always accompanied by the latest Harry Potter novel to keep me entertained. I'll have the books and I'll have the films, which of course I will watch more than the average person should. Nevertheless, it will still be a bit sad when the whole Harry Potter hype eventually dies down. Well, unless J.K. Rowling stands by her word and writes a prequel to the Potter series, in which case I'll have that book and subsequent film to look forward to. But until then, and until June 2011, at least I have the books, which I plan on re-reading from now until then. Well, I do have 7 months to kill, so I might as well...