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Welcome To Diagon Alley
The Moment: Having only just been told by Hagrid of his wizarding heritage, Harry is whisked off to Diagon Alley, exposing him to his first taste of the magical world. Packed to the rafters with colourful characters and exciting shops, a whole world of possibility is opened to both Harry and the reader.
Better On Film? Its difficult to top that first sense of wonder conjured up by the reader’s imagination, but the film does a fairly steady job, the collapsible brick wall that reveals the scene working particularly well to show how closely the two worlds exist.
You Say: “Seeing Diagon Alley for the first time. Still gives me goosebumps!” – Lady Lara Croft (@fannyvonfabulus)
Voldemort Reborn
The Moment: The Dark Lord is finally restored to corporeal form in a hideously frightening ceremony in the graveyard of Little Hangleton. The ensuing battle with Harry is exciting, but it's this initial resurrection that really packs a punch. Having only been glimpsed amongst the shadows of the first three books, Voldemort has finally arrived in earnest.
Better On Film? This marks the big-screen bow of Ralph Fiennes, who invests Voldemort with the appropriate amount of sinister majesty. Although we still think he could look more terrifying…some things are always more scary in your imagination.
You Say: “Definitely the appearance of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort in the fourth. Creepy, powerful and those mood swings…The Dark Lord has risen indeed.” - Saša orevi
Into The Woods
The Moment: Believing that he himself is the last Horcrux, Harry sorrowfully enters the Forbidden Forest in order to sacrifice himself. The brilliance of Rowling’s writing however, means that Harry is no bluff, through-gritted-teeth martyr. Throughout his journey to the Death Eaters’ camp, all he can think of are the happy memories he enjoyed at Hogwarts, and just how desperately he doesn’t want to die. It’s moving stuff.
I Must Not Tell Lies
The Moment: Having been placed in detention by the sadistic Dolores Umbridge, Harry is forced to write “I must not tell lies” over and over again using Umbridge’s special quill. However, things take a turn for the macabre when Harry realises the quill is carving the lines into his hand as he writes them. Ouch.
Better On Film? The sequence is brilliantly realised, from the sickly detailing of Umbridge’s lurid pink office to the passive-aggressive simper with which she ignores Harry’s pain. Of all the big-screen portrayals, Imelda Staunton’s Umbridge is one of the best.
You Say: “Imelda Staunton's little laughs in Order of the Phoenix and Hallows Part 1 . She brought Dolores Umbridge to life perfectly, you really can't do anything but love to hate that woman.” - Saša orevi
I'm A What?
The Moment: Having chased the Dursleys from pillar to post, Hagrid finally tracks them down to the secluded island, and at last reveals to Harry his magical background. The following morning, Harry wakes up fully aware of his new life, and his excitement and enthusiasm is impossible to resist. Things just got interesting…
Better On Film? Robbie Coltrane gleefully does the honours with a beardy, “You’re a wizard Harry.”
You Say: “You’re a wizard Harry” – Rachel McCann (@RachelMcCarb)
Not My Daughter!
The Moment: Having seen her son Fred killed by the Death Eaters, Molly Weasley spots Bellatrix battling her youngest, Ginny. Enraged, Molly launches herself into battle with Bellatrix, screaming “NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH.” A fight to the death ensues, with Molly landing a Killing Curse squarely on Bellatrix’s heart. The undoubted highlight of the frenetic and shocking Battle of Hogwarts.
Better On Film? Hard to say without having seen it, but from the looks of the trailer, Molly will finally get to kick some arse on the big screen.
You Say: “My favourite moment hasn’t happened yet…but it’d better! ‘Not my daughter you bitch!’” – jhubbs82 (@jessnerdlikeme)
Mirror, Mirror
The Moment: Having spent several nights staring at the image of his parents, Harry learns from Dumbledore that the Mirror of Erised reflects “the deepest and most desperate desire of our hearts”. When asked what he sees, Dumbledore bats off the question by claiming to see himself holding a pair of woollen socks, remarking “one can never have enough socks”. As we later learn, what Dumbledore really sees is the image of his relatives, whose death has crippled him with guilt. Pretty weighty stuff for a so-called “children’s book.”
Better On Film? It’s fine enough, but the young Radcliffe struggles to convey the deep sorrow and longing Harry feels when staring into the mirror.
You Say: “Dumbledore telling Harry not to waste his life staring in the mirror, watching what could have been” – Rita Amber
You Brave, Brave Man
The Moment: Having provided no resistance to Voldemort’s Killing Curse, Harry finds himself in Limbo where he is greeted by Dumbledore. Finally spilling the last of his secrets, Dumbledore explains that Harry is not really dead, before speaking of his love and admiration for the boy who lived. “Harry, you wonderful boy,” he begins, “you brave, brave man.”
Better On Film? Another essential bit for the filmmakers to get right, although given that this will largely be down to Michael Gambon’s delivery, we’re not too worried.
Ghost Train
The Moment: The Dementors make their first appearance with a chilling raid upon the Hogwarts express. At this point in the story, Harry and Ron have no idea what they are or where they come from, adding an extra layer of fear as they menacingly stalk the carriages. Thankfully, Lupin is on hand to see they don’t get too carried away…
Better On Film? Alfonso Cuaron invests this scene with such a palpable sense of dread, he makes a mockery of the idea of Azkaban as a children’s film. An utterly brilliant moment.
Dumbledore's Death
The Moment: Arguably the most gut-wrenching moment across all seven books, Dumbledore’s demise is as shocking as they come. The agonising exchange between the headmaster and Snape is impassioned enough on first read, but when taken in context of later revelations, it’s simply inspired. As death scenes go, this one takes some beating.
Better On Film? Nothing can beat the shock-factor of reading it that first time, but the film does a decent job of things. That said, the lit wands above Dumbledore’s body are a little naff, and the omission of his funeral is a shame.
You Say: “Severus…Please…” – Noor Vatha Tabila (@tataanabilla)
