It's official - (will probably, eventually contain spoilers, beware)

[Darcy Baldwin]

You may commence talking about Harry Potter - I have seen the movie :p

[Julie Billingsley]

hahaha... I just got home too! :) I was glad I hadn't read the book recently so I could just enjoy the movie. NOW I'll reread the book! Actually I think I will do the audio book because they are SO awesome, if you haven't done the Harry Potter audio books you should check your library. They are really well done!

[Jennilyn]

DH and I won't be going to see it until August when my ILs take the girls for a week. :(

[dana]

i'm going next week when my nephew comes into town :) so i'm covering my ears (lalalalalala i can't hear you! hahaha)

[Paula]

Pretty good considering the changes to the storyline.

[DawnMarch]

I was glad I hadn't read the book recently so I could just enjoy the movie. NOW I'll reread the book! Actually I think I will do the audio book because they are SO awesome, if you haven't done the Harry Potter audio books you should check your library. They are really well done!

OMGosh, Julie, are you reading my mind!? I would have written this EXACT thing myself.

[Julie Billingsley]

OMGosh, Julie, are you reading my mind!? I would have written this EXACT thing myself.

:) I think Jim Dale is just AMAZING. I could listen to him all day! (just started the audio book a bit ago and now I'm finishing chapter 2 already.)

[livelys]

I've read the book, listened to the audio and seen the film!

...I rather liked the changes in the film - but I'm still not fussed on the actor playing Lupin, whom I always really liked in the books.

In the UK, the audiobooks are read by Steven Fry - who you may know from Bones (he treated Booth after he shot the icecream van), or BlackAdder if that made it over to you. He reads it beautifully too - I have trouble imagining Jim Dale reading the stories 'cos I will always associate him with the Carry On films!

[Sharon Kay]

We're going HOPEFULLY Sunday night with my sis and her family...we are hoping it will be a bit less crowded at the drive-in on a Sunday night. Think it will be much more fun to have about 10 of us together...kids throwing frisbees, eating pizza, drinking pop and eating junk food together. lol ...and Ice Age is the 2nd movie playing that night...

Looking forward to seeing the difference between the movie and the book...I read this book when it came out (can you believe that was 4 years ago?! I have the bookmark that has July 2005 on it we got when we bought the book. I'm reading it with my 13yo and Harry and Dumbledore are reading to walk into the cave...I figured I better stop reading there last night at midnight so he didn't get nightmares (he has a sleep disorder and didn't need to cause more of a problem.

My 13yo's 14th birthday is on Sunday...so figured it would be a fun way to celebrate it.

[Darcy Baldwin]

I've read the book, listened to the audio and seen the film!

...I rather liked the changes in the film - but I'm still not fussed on the actor playing Lupin, whom I always really liked in the books.

In the UK, the audiobooks are read by Steven Fry - who you may know from Bones (he treated Booth after he shot the icecream van), or BlackAdder if that made it over to you. He reads it beautifully too - I have trouble imagining Jim Dale reading the stories 'cos I will always associate him with the Carry On films!

I did NOT like the changes..or the omissions, I should say. I wanted to see Dumbledore ream the Dursley's. I wanted to see the fight at the school being more than Harry & Snape because I thought it was an integral part of the story...not to be condensed into a 1 min scene. I wanted to see Prof. McGonagal kick some butt! LOL

I love the guy playing Lupin - just didn't like the character much in this book.

And we saw Stephen on Top Gear not long ago and they were talking about him doing HP audio..and we were arguing LOL I would love to hear his read though Jim's is excellent!

[Paula]

I hated the changes too! I wanted to see Dumbledore tell off the Dursley's too, but I also wanted to see the exploding fireplace scene from Book 4 too. LOL

I wanted to see the fight at the end between the death eaters and the Order. But, they made all the death eaters go and see Dumbledore get it.

I think they needed to expand Fenrir Grayback's character and I was disappointed in them leaving off his attack of Bill and the fact that he was engaged to Fleur.

I wanted to see Dumbledore's funeral - but they left it out too.

Plus, I don't think they did a good enough job explaining horcruxes or showing the lengths that Voldemort went to get them PLUS some of those pensieve memories will explain what the other horcruxes are.

[gandcsmama]

I did not like the movie omissions either. I cannot imagine why they didn't show more pensieve scenes or explain the Horcruxes more thoroughly. I also think omitting Bill and Fleur's relationship/wedding makes no sense since they play a larger role in the last book. I also have no idea why they had Bellatrix and Fenrir destroy the Burrow. Argh, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie (I should be used to it by now).

[Darcy Baldwin]

Yeah - the funeral would've been wonderful to see, as well, but I guess they felt that was taken care of with the wand light ceremony thingie.

[Giseli Freitas]

I saw it yesterday and I have to say: I missed the Dumbledore's funeral :(
But I kinda expected this based in what I saw in previous ones. About the Horcrux thing: I had to explain to my friend after the movie; she asked for an explanation - she didn't read the books and doesn't get it. I think this is the general feeling about it, at least for grown ups who didn't read the books hehee
xoxo

[nikkiARNGwife]

We saw it today...It was okay..but I always go into the HP movies KNOWING how they will not even come close to being as good as the book so I won't be too disappointed..I try to look at it as "the only way they could stay 100 percent true to the book is if the movie was like 12 hours long" lol

Little bit too much teen drama...little bit choppy at times...I thought the boy playing Draco did a really good job making us feel a little sympathetic to his character b/c I always did a little in the books. I'm a little disturbed about the fact that these kids are like young men/women now..I mean didn't I just go see the one where they were like 11?? lol

overall good...lots of omissions but that was expected I guess. :)

[Sharon Kay]

OK just heard from my sister a few hours ago...they are on their way in town as I speak...so we're meeting at the drive-in TONIGHT...so gotta order pizza and meet them there! woo hoo! Wish us luck...hopefully by arriving almost 2 hours prior to start we will be able to park next to each other at the drive-in. Celebrating Brian's 14th birthday that is tomorrow!

P.S. I'll read the spoilers tomorrow after we get back ;-)

[Sharon Kay]

I did not like the movie omissions either. I cannot imagine why they didn't show more pensieve scenes or explain the Horcruxes more thoroughly. I also think omitting Bill and Fleur's relationship/wedding makes no sense since they play a larger role in the last book. I also have no idea why they had Bellatrix and Fenrir destroy the Burrow. Argh, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie (I should be used to it by now).

Ok we went to the drive-in with my sister's family...so the ONLY ones that had read the book were my 2 sons and I...and one girl they brought with them...so 5 people out of 9 were in the dark and totally lost I thought.

...and what's with Luna finding Harry on the train? They totally lost Tonks on this...sigh.

I sooooooooooooo agree on the pensieve and horcruxes...especially the horcruxes. ...and was TOTALLY TOTALLY TOTALLY disappointed in the big fight scene...I cannot believe that was left out...that was a MAJOR thing in the book...as big as explaining the horcruxes (the retrieval of...and how many they were and what they DO!)...so none of the students got hurt, Bill didn't get injured...how do you follow that up with the next movie if you never explained the horcruxes?

It's a HP movie so I liked it...but was very disappointed in what they left out. I felt like the movie had no "meat" to it...no direction...nothing to sink your teeth into and ponder.

Brian (who turned 14 today) said it didn't show Hermoine hating all the potions stuff with Harry...Snape didn't want all the books with Harry...and Jenny wasn't supposed to go into the room (room of requirement) with Harry to hide the book.

The boys (15 and 14) are sitting here arguing the story line...they both say they were disappointed it didn't follow closer to the book. ...I am wondering now whether I should have had them read the book prior to going...but at least they understood the significance of the horcrux and such....

[Darcy Baldwin]

Always read the book first, Sharon! I think it gives them a great insight on how to analyze.

Here's an article with one of the producers of HP (http://www.collider.com/2009/07/16/exclusive-producer-david-heyman-talks-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-and-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/) and explanations about why they did what they did.

[RatherBScrappin]

I am embarrassed to say that I haven't read any of the books, except the first one. I have seen all the movies and will go see this new one next week when my son is home. Eric has the books down in his room, and after I finish my latest vampire series, I'll probably go down and get them.

I find the conversations about the movies vs the books very enlightening and entertaining. :D

[Sharon Kay]

I am embarrassed to say that I haven't read any of the books, except the first one. I have seen all the movies and will go see this new one next week when my son is home. Eric has the books down in his room, and after I finish my latest vampire series, I'll probably go down and get them.

I find the conversations about the movies vs the books very enlightening and entertaining. :D

I think you will be amazed at how indepth the books are compared to the movies...so much you don't learn from the movies.

We like to compare the books to the movies...started out with the very first one when Harry didn't have to figure out which "potion" to take ... that started our indepth discussions between my 2 boys and I each time.