It's officially over: after eight movies that spanned more than a decade, the "Harry Potter" film franchise is finally at an end. It's a bittersweet occasion for Potterheads everywhere, even right here at MTV News headquarters. Many of us are huge "Potter" fans ourselves (perhaps the Harry Potter World Cup tipped you off to that), and as such, we're taking today as an opportunity to say goodbye to this series we love so much.
Read the MTV News crew's thoughts on the end of "Potter" after the jump.
"As a longtime 'Harry Potter' nerd, I’m oddly not saddened by the end of the film franchise, and I’ve zeroed in on why: I think they got it as right as anyone was ever going to. I love the books – we’re talking go stand in line at midnight with my Gryffindor scarf-type adoration. Given the scope and depth of the novels, that’s no small feat. There’s a lot that could have gone wrong here, but it didn’t, so it’s hard for me to be anything less than satisfied that the various directors, screenwriter Steve Kloves and actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint did J.K. Rowling’s fantastic series justice."
- John Mitchell, editor of MTV Newsroom Blog
"There are few things in pop culture that, as they near their inevitable close, have you whispering 'Don’t end, don’t end, don’t end' under your breath. 'Star Wars' comes to mind as the best example. I found myself thinking – and muttering – that as I watched the final cinematic scenes of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.'
"Even though we all know how it ends (and epilogues), watching it unfold on the CGI-driven blockbuster screen was an entirely different experience than reading JK Rowling’s original books. The idea that, in a few minutes, my decade of enjoying Potter would be over was both heartbreaking and fulfilling. The cycle of life and death-eating had come full-circle. The beginning was the end and so forth.
"I’ll miss you, Hogwarts. Here’s hoping there’s a Wizarding graduate school I’ll soon find out about."
-Jonathan Goldner, Head of MTV's Ravenclaw House
"During the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" NYC press conference, director David Yates said that during a screening of an early cut of the film, the only comment one viewer was able to leave about the movie was "Goodbye, childhood." That's exactly what saying goodbye to "Harry Potter" feels like. I'm a part of the lucky generation who is able to say that we legitimately grew up with Harry Potter, and its certainly bittersweet to have to say farewell together as well. Mischief managed!"
-Terri Schwartz, contributing writer and MTV News "Potter" know-it-all
"I loved the books (I started the first one after it was recommended by a 7-year-old) and enjoyed all the films, but what I’ll miss most about Harry Potter is the shared experience with my mom. After finishing each of the books I’d hand it off to her, and we’d go to the theater together each time a new movie was released – usually I would have seen the movie once or twice before I would have the opportunity to see it with her, but neither of us cared – we both had fun anyway. I’m looking forward to my next trip home, when I’ll see “Deathly Hallows Part 2” again, with Mom."
-Tami Katzoff, Segment Producer with MTV News
"Sorry in advance for the shameless plug, but there's no way I can say goodbye to 'Potter' without acknowledging the last few weeks. Seriously, Harry Potter World Cup was a true labor of love, not just for myself, but for countless members of the MTV News Crew. There were so many editors, producers, freelancers, digital sorcerers and more who spent hours upon days upon weeks upon months slaving away to create a truly special and engaging way to mark the end of 'Potter,' with lots and lots of sleepless nights and Bertie Bott's Jelly Beans to keep us awake. (Somehow we always got the bad flavors, too. Not pretty!) It didn't shake out perfectly for everybody, but there were dramatic shocks along the way and one heck of a fulfilling acceptance speech at the end of the tunnel. I'm enormously proud of the work that was done here and I'm beyond thrilled at your response to the project. I can only hope you guys had as much fun as we did. But now, with World Cup finished and 'Deathly Hallows' in theaters, it really does feel like the book has closed. I'll miss you, 'Potter.' See you on Blu-ray."
-Josh Wigler, Editor of MTV Movies Blog
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