Harry Potter Home Celebration Screenings

Since Universal Studios announced big news about their Harry Potter Home Celebration Event, it was something I was pining to be apart of. Simply put after much deliberating, attending wasn't in the cards because it wasn't something I could afford. I went about other ways to celebrate the final DVD released; watched the marathon of movies on ABC Family and bought my Blu-ray copy at a midnight release party. As luck would have it, Universal Studios Citywalk Cineplex offered a three-day weekend screening of all 8 Harry Potter movies open to the general public!

Something that was at the top of my bucket list and a dream I've had since I was a little girl -see all 8 Harry Potter movies on the big screen! Quite obviously, the price was well in my range for me to go, so I bought tickets a week in advance, and it's been a blast so far!

For the first day of the weekend, Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban were screened. I'll admit that I've seen the movies at home on tv, but there's something undeniably magical about seeing these movies on the big screen. It's so easy to be fell encompassed by the movies because of the screen so vast, it makes you feel like you're in their world. Plus no commercials! To see the first year students sailing towards Hogwarts for the first time, my eyes were ablaze with its soft lighting and majesty. To experience the golden trio on their adventures one by one, it felt all so fluid and like I was on a never-ending adventure.

The second day of the weekend Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, and Half-Blood Prince was screened. Despite being food poisoned from the popcorn I enjoyed the day before, body sore and tired, I survived! Barely. I got there at 2:00 and managed to stay healthy-enough until the day ended at 1:00 am. What struck me the most while watching these movies were How the golden trios hairstyles change so drastically, as well as how the theme of the movies changes so easily. When J.K. Rowling told the studios that the series will get darker and scarier, there's no doubt that they do get darker. After the first three movies where you can really get a sense of how big the wizarding world is, the story gradually takes a deeper turn that the story is more than about a little courageous kid named Harry battling against a very bad guy, Voldemort.   To watch the kids grow into actors and find their way as well has been almost surreal. So is the great ten-year performance by Alan Rickman as Severus: Just brilliant. And, about the hairstyles. The wigs were great for their age, but the Deathly Hallows mature-yet-disheveled look is by far my favorites!

Today is the last day of the weekend: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2. It's hard to realize that today is the last day because I've had an absolute blast so far! The employees at the Citywalk Cineplex were more than welcoming. I had so many interesting conversations with fellow fans. (To the lovely family I met this weekend, I'm hanging in there!) By far my favorite audience-member costume was a Ron Weasley Quidditch outfit, just great! I'm really just astounded by the whole thing and can't wait for this afternoon! It's going to be a tear-filled one...