Kat's Blog

Kat's Blog

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Book 7 and the Movie!


I am a huge fan of all the Harry Potter books and movies. And I have loved all the games too. Book 7, the final chapter in the Harry Potter saga, is about to be released. And the next Harry Potter movie, based on book 5, is also about to come out. Book 7 is called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In this final chapter, we find out whether Harry lives or dies. My personal opinion, and it's an opinion only because the book's plot is so closely guarded, is that Harry lives. My viewpoint is based on an interview done by author J.K. Rowling in which she said she was toying with writing more Harry Potter books that would follow his adult life. He can't have an adult live if he dies.


I am 31 but these books are so great. They may be technically classified as children's novels, but they totally read on an adult level. And, truth be told, if I had kids I wouldn't let any of them read these books until they were 13. At least not from the fourth book on. For those of you reading my blog, this next part is going to contain spoilers to explain why. So if you haven't read the books or seen the films and you don't want to know what's gonna happen, don't read on. For those of you who have read them or don't care about spoilers, proceed.


Books 1 through 3, The Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Prisoner of Azkaban have no deaths. NO ONE DIES! There are some harsh concepts such as betrayal, but nothing a kid under the age of 13 can't handle. But from the fourth book on, that changes. In every book, except book 7 because I have no idea what happens, someone dies. Someone important. And the people who die become people who are more and more close to Harry. My guess is important people are going to die in book 7 too, but that's just a guess.


In book 4, The Goblet of Fire, Harry's name somehow gets dropped into the goblet of fire, even though he is too young. And his name is chosen, thus Harry by law is forced to compete in the Deadly Triwizard Tournament. He must survive three deadly tasks, and things are worse than he knows. He survives the first two tasks. The last one is a maze. And that maze leads him to a trap designed to use his own blood to bring back his deadly enemy, Lord Voldermort. Both Harry and another Triwizard competitor end up in his clutches. Fellow student and champion Cedric Diggory is ordered killed, and Voldemort's minion carries out the murder. That's the first death.


Book 5: This book is extremely dark. And even though the most shocking death happens in book 6, I think this book, The Order of the Phoenix, is hardest to handle. Harry returns to school only to find out the Ministry of Magic has proclaimed him a liar about Voldermort being back. And to ensure Harry shuts up, they install a horrible woman as the new defence against the dark arts teacher. Only, she won't teach them how to defend themselves. And every time Harry insists Voldermort is alive, she holds him for detention and uses her wand to painfully write sentences on his arm. She tortures Harry. And because she works for the ministry itself, no one can stop her. Harry and his friends decide to teach themselves defense which prepares them for the final battle with Voldermort himself at the ministry. But, in the final battle, Sirius Black, Harry's godfather and the only member of his family who actually loves him is killed. Death number 2 and closer to home this time.


Book 6: The Half-Blood Prince features the most shocking of deaths. Fudge, the minister of magic who hadn't believed Harry, has been sacked. Snape now teaches defense against the dark arts. There is a new potions teacher. And yes, the truth about Draco Malfoy that we always suspected is confirmend. Draco is a deatheater just like his father. Draco's assignment this year, kill Dumbledore the headmaster of Hogwarts. However, much of a tick as he is, he is unable to bring himself to do it. Meanwhile, Harry and Dumbledore discover that to destroy Voldermort once and for all, they must find and destroy the seven sections of his soul. Two sections have already been destroyed. 5 to go. Dumbledore and Harry are attacked by deatheaters led by.....SNAPE! Yes, even though Dumbledore stood up for Snape and protected him, Snape is the ultimate betrayer. Harry gets away but Snape himself kills Dumbledore. Then he himself escapes. Harry returns to the Dursley's for the summer as he knows he'll be safe there, but says he won't return to school the following year because he has to find the last five pieces and destroy them. Also, it isn't even certain, now that Dumbledore is dead, if the school will re-open.


Book 7: The Deathly Hallows is anyone's guess. I hope Snape gets what's coming to him for his betrayal. But there are some clues that J.K. herself have said will help you figure out what may happen. The title itself, The Deathly Hallows is a clue. The fact that Harry has his mother's Lily's eyes is important. And if you watch the movie the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. says there are some clues hidden in the movie that shadow what's to come. Also, Rowling has confirmed that Dumbledore really is dead. Some people had speculated on whether he really died or not. He did die. I have this book on pre-order. But these events are why I don't think anyone under 13 should read the later stuff. Or if they do, they should read them with their parents so they can discuss what goes on.


The book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows releases July 21st. The movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix releases one week before the book. I am looking forward to both. The game based on the Phoenix movie releases for all formats at the end of June. I'm looking forward to that as well.

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