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Mine was the first time slot available which was at 10am. I reached at the main entrance of Art Science Museum (Bayfront MRT) 10 minutes to 10am and was standing at the frontal rows of the queue while awaiting for the the main door to be opened (Odd heh? Why not just let people in to have a feel of the cooler air indoors? Besides, people who have yet to purchase their tickets can always start purchasing them while waiting? I mean even though is not time yet and the inner entry of the main event are still closed, at least allow us to wait indoors instead of outdoors. Mind you, it was a perfectly sunny day that day! Prickling hot on my bare skin!). Fortunately, I didn't need to wait much longer as they are quite punctual to open their doors but there were people who have waited much longer before us ;)
We had our heavy baggage on our backs, so we decided to deposit our backpacks just at the counter where ticket collection is and the best part is for FREE! No extra charges applied like those costly lockers at theme parks. However, there weren't any physical lockers though but out bags were just kept behind the the counter and of course tagged with the owners' name written. Then off we go, feeling much lighter now, taking the enormous lift to the 2nd Floor. Be reminded to keep your ticket with you at all times as you will need to scan the barcode when you enter and exit. Note* that there'll be no re-entry, only one way!
As soon as we step our foot on the 2nd floor, towards the right hand side you'll see the obvious Harry Potter The Exhibition setup. Ahh! I was feeling excited already lol..
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First was the collection of audio device which it came together with the ticket package that I bought for SGD30 which consists of the following:
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First was the collection of audio device which it came together with the ticket package that I bought for SGD30 which consists of the following:
-Ticket entry for exhibition SGD24
-Audio device SGD 6 (Alternatively, it can be purchased on the spot too.)
Then the host over there thaught us on how to use it. It was pretty simple to use just by pressing the specific code numbers that you see along the exhibition to listen to the audio.
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| Forgive me for my shaky hands hehe =) |
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| Flying Ford Anglia above our heads |
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| Frontal view of the Flying Ford Anglia |
More backdrops of the film scenes
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| Wordings found on the floor. |
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| Movie posters of HP 1 and 2 from left to right |
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| Movie posters of HP 3, 4 and 5 from left to right |
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| Misty Harry? Cool heh? |
As you can see the word 'Harry' in a faint white colour (not the solid vivid white one) as it was the effect of mist sprays (like the one you see in kopitiam which is believed to provide better ventilation or cool down the temperature of a stuffy place) with light passes through a certain pathway to that displays to you what you see. So, in other words when you can just walk pass through those words you see as there isn't any physical poster or hard item that makes up the word. It was pretty cool for an entry as it makes it feeling more enchanted haha..
Anything beyond here, photographs are prohibited which was a really setback for me as I would love to keep things that I see and experience in memory (I meant the positive ones though ;)
Then they led us to another room where a screen plays snippets of the all seven films. Next room is where the hostess begun with the 'Sorting Hat Ceremony'. It was a good choice for taking someone that has an English accent which gives a more taste to the authentic English Harry Potter world. I cannot picture a local with a typical local slang which would not be executed that well (Not offence to the locals, is just that Harry Potter is English haha..). She then asked for three volunteers to come up to try our the sorting hat in order to know which house you ought to be. The sound effects was a little disappointing as the sound was coming from the back of the room rather than coming from the hat itself which I found it a little unrealistic.
After that, we were let alone to go on our own pace to explore the exhibition.
I'm not sure is just me or is for real that scaling for a little off par from the actual characters /actors/actresses because they made Hermione/Emma Watson looked short. I noticed that some of the casual attires fitted on the mannequin was not right as the jeans length was longer and creases at the bottom hmmm..What do you think?
The Forbidden Forest section did felt a little dark the moment you enter. Especially the centaurs and next was the hungarian horntail dragon. The other were just mediocre.
The descriptions stated on the display items are not really much of a elaboration about a certain piece. I think it is really unnecessarily to mention when and which film the prop was used for almost all of the pieces. As a piece of advice, if you're a hardcore fan and a person who pay attention to details, I suggest that you get the audio device as they sometimes explain on behind the scenes of how they make a certain prop or what kind of frabic to be used for the draperies at the boys' dormitory and the cyrstal ball used in divination class. Well, I do admit that certain explanation of matter is little plain as sometimes they do state the obvious. One thing that I learnt that is in every CGI characters, a real physical model is a must to be made. I remember I came across a review who complained on why showing a physical model rather than the CGI effects as they are 100% CGI produced. The model is as important to make up the motions of CGI characters. To me is still worthwhile going though there should be more interactive things for the visitors to experience with. There were some like the at the Professor Sprout's greenhouse, visitors can try out to pull out the 'mandrakes'; a plant that gives a shrieking sound. At the Quidditch field, you'll get to throw the quaffles into the rings provided. I managed to goal after a few tries though XP..
It ends with a sovenir shop at the end which I don't think is complete with the wide range of merchandises that is available out there in the US market (the official Harry Potter online store.) I wish there were more choices though as only the common ones were only available. Intended to get the jigsaw puzzle that I saw online but weren't sold though.
In the end, I gotten myself the most costly chopsticks that is replica to wands, SGD25~RM62.50. Cool heh? And expensive too! My friend was trying to brain washed herself that she got two wands instead of chopsticks lol
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| Merchandises that I gotten myself. |
In the end, I gotten myself the most costly chopsticks that is replica to wands, SGD25~RM62.50. Cool heh? And expensive too! My friend was trying to brain washed herself that she got two wands instead of chopsticks lol
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| From left: Harry's and Ron's |
Bertie Botts' Beans SGD6
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| Earwax and vomit?? eughh.. |
Chocolate frog (wished it looked more like the one depicted in the movie in a pentagon shape box rather than just a plastic wrapper. They did displayed the real one in the exhibition though..) SGD 6
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| I got Professor McGonagall! |
Posters (didn't get it though pftt..) SGD20
Marauder's Map SGD50 ouch! Will get it from Taobao haha...
Photos SGD20 each or SGD50 for 3 with a soft copy (A code number is given where you'll have to download it from the website yourself)
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Photos SGD20 each or SGD50 for 3 with a soft copy (A code number is given where you'll have to download it from the website yourself)
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| Stepped down on Hogwarts grounds |
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| Hogwarts Castle from afar |
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| At the Great Hall. Where's our banquet ready? I thought there should be one at every welcoming ceremonies for 1st years like us ;) |
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| At the lavatory of Art Science Musuem (If only they have one dedicated to a HP theme..) |
the VERDICT
To be honest, I have read other various reviews on this prior to experiencing it by myself and many who do not think it met their expectations which I kept telling myself to not overestimate and put up too much hopes on it. First of all, from the title itself, it is an 'Exhibition' and I do not think it'll be very much decorative as the one in London as it known as the Harry Potter Studio Tour London. The latter emphasises more on the set and film-making where you get to witness the real set look-alike and green screens of how-it-works. For instance, The Great Hall and Hogsmeade etc. (Note* I did not have the opportunity to go to the UK. So, it is basically based on my friends's experiences and PHOTOS of the insides!).
As for the former, it focuses more on the props and costumes. I guess one possible reason is that their easier to be transported rather than re-making the whole replica set of Hogwarts grounds which will definitely hike up the cost (Note* the one in London is much pricier). For me as an exhibition and a hard-core fan of the books and films, it was overall a good experience and could be better when compared to ordinary museums that is absolute plain and boring.
I guess different people will perceived it differently as I never been to such exhibitions before so it is considered my first. I can't really compare it. I heard that the previous Titanic and Lord of the Rings were much interesting than this but I can't judge.
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| Me, trying to drive?? nah more like Yosh Gambateh ne! |
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| Posters near the lift (If only they give one of those for free XP) |
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The end.. .jpg)
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