11.50am Crazy as it seems I have never actually seen any of the Harry Potter
films. It's not that I purposely have avoided the movies, I just have never
got around to seeing them and wasn't too bothered about that fact. But now as the
last Harry Potter is out on DVD and seeing as they are the most successful British films ever made, I thought I better see what all the fuss was about. And if I was
going to watch them, I may as well do it in all on one go, that way I could write about the
experience...and get it over with. I naively thought that the films would be no
longer than 2 hours each, so it would end up being a 16 hour Potter marathon in total.
But no. After adding up the running times I have discovered that it will be over
19 hours. This is going to be a long day! So with a bag full of snacks to munch on
(I wont have much time for cooking) I begin, obviously at the start
of the series.
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone.
12.pm First thoughts; Good opening shot, I've read in film books that the
opening shot should straight away tell us the themes of the film. An owl sitting on
street sign, splendid!
12.15 As this was ten years ago now I thought the acting might
be just a little bit questionable, but so far it's all quite good. Maggie Smith,
Robbie Coltrane, that crazy woman from Three Men and A Little Lady. Even baby faced Daniel Radcliffe is surprisingly
alright.
12.22 John Hurt is here. Best voice in showbiz,
no doubt about it. Good to see him in the wizard genre and not voicing a dragon a la Merlin,
a show which I really enjoy, even though it's more meant for children. Hopefully this means I will enjoy the HP series too?
12.41 Had to pause it for 15 mins to take a phonecall. Not a good start. Don't want to fall
behind as I would like to make it to bed around 7am.
12.58 Hermione is here,
the questionable acting begins I think, but she's so little I'll give her a break.
13.02 Poor Ron Weasley, there seems to be class divides even in fantasy.
13.11 Thoughts of the moment; I love Alan Rickman. I wish owls would bring me my mail.
13.29 Only an hour and a half in and
I have eaten too much chocolate for this time of day. Also really have to go to the loo
but worried about wasting precious minutes.
14.05 Almost two hours in and it doesn't really
feel like anywhere near the end of this first film yet, oh yeah that's because it's not. Don't
know how little kids keep their attention this long.
14.11 I'm thinking that half man
half horse looks very familiar. Who is that? Or maybe it just reminds me of the Na'vi from
Avatar.
14.38 Only just realised this minute that Dumbledore doesn't look like the same one I've in more recent trailers. Shows how observant I am.
14.45 One down, seven to go.
So I've learned about Quidditch and that I'm a Muggle, I've learned that Hermione's mouth
moves a lot and very widely. I like Ron and want an owl. Id say the giant chess game was
my favourite part, but over all not quite the excitement I was hoping for.
Not totally into the Harry Potter world as yet but I'm sure I'll get their...
Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets.
14.49 Harry looks quite a lot older for one year, I guess they grow up
fast at that age. This Dobbie character looks annoying though, hopefully not another
Jar Jar Binks type.
15.07 Kenneth Brannagh is here. Great!
15.26 Right now I'm watching
a jar full of tiny blue Cornish pixies...Cornish pasties would be better...I'm hungry
again.
15.28 Ron is now vomiting slugs, not so hungry anymore.
15.49 Only onto the second
HP of the day and just noticed it's already getting dark outside. That's a depressing thought
I've seen almost no light today.
15.53 Really not liking this Draco Malfoy, as a Muggle myself
I think he has a lot to learn about equality in the 21st century. Is it the 21st
century? Some of the older characters dress as if they're Victorian. Would probably have helped if I'd read the books.
16.16 Did Maggie Smith just say 'sherbet lemon' to open a secret passage way?
What kind of Latin spell is that? How very odd. I'm sure lot's of people know the answer
to this.
16.19 Christmas at Hogwarts. I suddenly feel all festive.
16.24 So Harry and Ron
have transformed into Crabbe and Goyle but kept there own voices. Quite good ADR I have to
say, but I suppose they have the budget for that.
16.47 As an arachnaphobe myself,
I feel for poor Ron, I really do.
17.19 Think we are getting to the end. Harry apparently
has just minutes to live and so a phoenix cries into his wound, the tears causing it to heal
and thus saves his life. "Thanks" says Potter. Not exactly the most emotional outbursts
of gratitude I've seen.
17.26 So Dobby is released from the clutches of his master, who
looks to me like the lead singer of Poison but I think is Draco's Dad, by way of a sock.
Random, even for Harry Potter.
Second one down. Overall it was alright, I can see a bit of progression with the storyline
and characters although still not the Potter fanatic I'm hoping to end up. I am definitely
looking forward to the later, more darker films though.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban.
17.42 Harry's run away from home, he's definitely an angsty teenager now.
17.45 Now he's taking a ride on a triple decker bus, love it, where can I find one of these in London?
17.46 Is the Shrunken Head voiced by Lenny Henry? They've just dropped Harry off at a
hotel, surprised it's not the Premier Inn.
18.06 Getting into this one more. They're upping their game for sure. More locations, better set design and
costumes. Bigger doesn't always mean
better in film, but I think in this series it does.
18.15 Getting bored of cold food now so I have ordered a pizza,
it's going to be a long and very unhealthy day today.
18.40 So it's Harry's own God
father that wants to kill him? That's where I am right now. Sorry suddenly too into it now to write
any more...
18.49 Ron sleep talking...'The spiders want me to tap dance' haha. Ron is definitely my fav.
19.11 Although I am enjoying this one a lot more, I'm starting to feel a lot of pain and discomfort
in my body, I believe its called 'lazy muscle-itis'. It's a bit early in the day for this, long way to go yet!
19.15 Sirius Black is Gary Oldman... How did I not know this before? That makes this one even better.
19.24 Uh-oh, the kids are time traveling now. Always a risky move in any film.
So I enjoyed the Prisoner of Azkaban a lot more than the previous two, I have to say. The sheer scale
of this one definitely added to the excitment of their adventures, and it's getting a little more serious,
then there was Oldman of course. But eight hours into the marathon now and I'm already starting
to feel my attention dwindling. Need to make some coffee if I'm going to survive another 11 hours or so.
I think I momentarily went mad as for some reason I thought I only had four films left, when I actually
have five. Five seems like a lot. After a short break to do my washing (can't completely abandon normal life) it's on to...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
20.21 David Tenant. Someone else I didn't realise was in these.
20.28 And here's Edward Cullen. He is so young and rosie cheecked (is that how you spell cheecked? Don't
think I've ever written it before) - hard to believe that in a few short years he would be come a vampiric heart throb.
20.35 Quiddich world cup, exitin'. Harry's seems to have grown his hair into a 70's footballer bouffant for the occasion.
20.52 I'm starting to think that every British actor over 40 years of age are in these films. It certainly looks that way.
21.00 Not entirely sure what's happening in this one, something about curses, feel like I'm just staring at the screen
right now. Must. Concentrate.
21.12 So Harry is or is going to be a tri wizard champion and has to compete for eternal glory, is that it? Seems
ridiculous that I can't actually follow a childrens film at the moment. Everyone is being very dramatic about him going into this
competition for some reason, even Ron. It's as though he's admitted to being a Crack addict. Do you capatalise the word
Crack? Never mind, more important things....
21.33 aaw Ron and Harry have fallen out.
21.47 aaw Ron and Harry have made up. 14 minutes later. Kids!
21.54 The trials of not having a date for the school dance. Brings back memories. But ain't Hermione a picture in pink! OK I may be being sucked in now.
Is that Jarvis Cocker singing at the school dance? My school dances were never like this.
22.11 Harry's in the bath. Not sure I'm ready to see a topless Potter yet. Ah the continuity of wet hair,
always a tricky one.
22.15 So the next challenge is to stay under water for up to an hour...bet David Blaine would have no problem...wonder
what he's doing now.
22.16 Liking the big hedge maze, reminds me of my childhood trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach...where they have a big hedge
maze, just to be clear.
22.44 Did they just kill Edward? I mean Cedric. They did, they just killed Cedric! Thought he was in more than one.
Almost upset about it...Ralph Fiennes looks cool though...I move on quickly.
Well that was quite fun. Until the end with the death and things. Entertaining. Although preferred
the last one. I'm now half way through the series. My sentences and attention span are getting shorter I feel.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
23.14 Oh good. Harry got a haircut. His body does seems to be growing a lot faster than his head though, maybe it's
just an illusion from the shorter hair. Loving the cinematography of this one, looks lovely.
23.26 Those Weasley twins look at least 30 now, don't they?
00.00 12 hours down. Definitely enjoying this one the most. I guess it's because it's a little more grown up.
00.22 Just witnessing the first HP kiss. Hermione has just told Ron he has the 'Emotional range of a teaspoon',
her best line yet. She is a lot better at the whole acting thing now, less mouthy.
00.29 Thought of the moment; Why is Gary Oldman so cool? Can anyone explain it? Love him.
00.35 Good-o Helena's here.
00.39 Was really enjoying this one. But I think the brain fuzz has set in and has made me lose
the plot a bit, not like crazy lose the plot, lose the plot of the film, although maybe the other one too.
00.49 Mmmmm. Cold pizza.
01.01 Feel like this one has been on for an eternity.
01.11 OK. That giant ogre thing must be the worst 'monster' so far. I mean really. Have they ran out
of their sfx budget or something?
01.15 What the hell happened to Bonham-Carter, she was only in it for two seconds?
01.16 Oh ok here she is again. Along with Axl Rose, I mean Lucius Malfoy.
01.24 Sirious is dead now. But my tear ducts are too tired to work.
0.27 Cool glass smashing affects. That's where the rest of the budget went then.
01.29 I'm confused. Is Voldermort related to Harry? Is this one of those
Darth Vader moments? Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me. Was there even a
phoenix in this?
01.37 Oh yeah, the order of the phoenix was a secret society, memory lapse.
This has definitely been my favourite one so far although it's been a struggle
at times. Don't know how on earth I'm going to last another three, my bodily fluids are
already at least 98% caffeine.
Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince.
01.44 I like how all of the HP films start off in the 'real world' Just saw the Gherkin.
What's even in the Gherkin? Gherkin's a funny word isn't it?
01.50 Broadbent's in the house! Of course he is. All we need now is Brian Cox and
Bill Nighy and the over 40's actors society will be complete.
02.20 Harry has made a jar of liquid luck. How can I make a jar of liquid luck?
02.46 Luna's pretty funny, total space cadet but a funny one.
02.50 How many girls does Harry fancy in this film? I've lost count. I blame teen hormones.
03.00 Would Ron and Hermione just get it together already? I mean seriously.
3.15 Oh God. I thought Ron was a goner for a minute. Don't do that to me, I don't think
my caffeine soaked heart can take it right now.
03.27 For the love of god is this not over yet? Don't think time has ever
moved so slowly. Who's stupid idea was this anyway? Harry Potter marathon. That's just idiotic.
03.48 Been in a complete daze for the last 20 minutes, not sure what's happening,
think Dumbledore is about to snuff it.
03.57 Yup RIP Dumble.
04.00 So Snape is the half blood prince. Not sure what that means, they probably explained
why that's important but my mushy brain can't remember.
Right that's the sixth one over. Well I thought I'd be a little more
emotionally involved by now, usually I cry at anything remotely sad, but I'm not quite attached to
the characters enough yet, except for Ron maybe, as you can probably tell. I say 'you' but I'm sure there
is no one still reading these ramblings anymore.
It's now 4.11am No matter how exhausted I am, I am going to make the most of these last
two films. So my plan is...
stay awake, focus, maybe write less as to keep my attention going. Maybe I should turn off
the light, but that seems a bit risky. OK I'm going to report back after...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One.
04.14 Bill Nighy! Score! Ok I'm really gone this time...
06.30 OK I'm still awake. Just. It seems I like each film better as it goes a long. It's a lot darker now, which I like, especially the beginning with that woman bent completely backwards, that was
quite freaky, I'm surprised younger kids can even watch that. It's really good to see the characters
out of Hogwarts and into new locations which are stunning to look at, top rate cinematography. Enjoyed
the wedding between Fluer and one of the ginger ones, mostly because I love weddings, although it
didn't end too well. The dance between Harry and Hermione was really quite cute...I may be reverting back into a teenage girl right now. Brian Cox hasn't shown up but Peter Mullan has, which is just as good, and
Rhys Ifans too, great result. I was worried at the multiple Harry part, really wouldn't have been able to
follow that for very long in this state. Was enjoyable but at the same time complete torture, ten minutes
felt like an hour and never thought I could feel this uncomfortable from lack of sleep. Don't get me wrong,
I have stayed up this long before, in my younger party days perhaps, but not this long in the same position
staying at a screen, watching wizards. Good cliffhanger though.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two.
My nemesis. At the moment I have no idea how I will manage this. Just going to have to hit play and see
what happens. At least it's the shortest one at 2hours 5mins.
8.36am And so it ends. Dark. Dramatic. Exiting...from what I can remember. Great acting by all of the cast.
Ron and Hermione finally get together. Harry lives...that was surprising,
I had it in my head the whole time that
he dies at the end, I must be the only one in Britain who didn't know the ending.
I am barely managing to lift my fingers to type now. Although I don't feel like
I am officially obsessed with Harry Potter now, it's been an quite an enjoyable and interesting
experience and I can see why others love it. Ten years in one day. Over 20 hours of film.
I'm glad I did it, not sure why exactly, maybe it will come to me tonight when
I wake up. I would love to write more but I'm a little worry that it will be me that dies
instead of Harry, from sleep deprivation.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two is out now on DVD, yadda yadda...I'm off to dream of wizards...