Clearly I have way too much time on my hands.
So I saw Deathly Hallows again, after rereading the book, so now I feel like I can make some proper observations. It may come as a surprise to you that I am a gigantic nerd.
But anyway.
Not quite as jaw-dropping the second time around, even though I saw it on the IMAX screen this time. It did give me a headache, though, which kinda sucked. It's interesting to see what they dropped, and what they kept in. I must have missed this the first time around, but during the seven Potters scene, I'm pretty sure that Tonks was about to tell everyone that she was pregnant, but then Harry took the spotlight. Watching the way she and Lupin are with each other in the seconds afterwards is interesting - he gives her a subtle, comforting kind of gesture that's not really elaborated on. Really, though, it's the kind of subplot that they needed to go all or nothing with. It seems strange to go "by the way guys, we've got something important to tell you" and then not expand on it, then if Teddy shows up in part 2, it's going to be all "huh?". (Also, I like Remus' struggle with werewolfdom, and his reluctance for parenthood reflects that very well).
Part of the problem with that, though, is the fact that the movies haven't really emphasised the minor characters very well. The books did a very good job of showing this world full of hundreds of distinct minor characters, and in the films, it somehow feels as though they're putting too much emphasis on the trio, but I guess that's the point of the story, in the end. (You may have guessed that I really like Tonks, but if you haven't I will say it here: I really like Tonks). In DH, with Lupin and Tonks, and even moreson with Bill and Fleur, it's going to be somewhat confusing for the people who haven't read the books, in a "who are these people, and why should I care about their wedding, kind of way." That said, I think that Bill&Tonks would have made a good couple Nothing to see here. RLNT4ever.
Time constraints, and the constraints of previous films are another reason why some things might come out of left field for people; things like the mirror, and Dobby, and even Dumbledore's funeral - I felt like the scene with Voldemort breaking into the tomb would have had so much more impact if we'd seen the funeral, and even then, it just seems like a really weird scene to leave out of HBP. Also somewhat annoying is the Ginny/Harry ship, but that's not really the sole fault of the movies. Ron/Hermione was built up from day one. They (and Harry) spent all year together, in classes, and fighting evil, and whatnot. Ginny is pretty much absent in 1,3 and 4, and plays semi-important roles in 2 and 5. (Yes, she opened the Chamber of Secrets, and was all important in that regard, but the narrative keeps with Harry, and he didn't interact with her as often as he did with Ron and Hermione). Then, in 6, it's a very much out of nowhere kind of relationship. If I really believed in psychodynamics, I'd say it's because she resembles his mother.
Relationships in the wizarding world are a strange thing. The majority of the ones we've seen have been together since Hogwarts (James & Lily, Molly & Arthur, Harry & Ginny, Ron & Hermione, etc), and married very young - 21ish, for James and Lily, and Molly and Arthur, if the Harry Potter wiki is to be believed. I mean, I know it's not unheard of, but it seems like it's a lot more common for wizards.
And my final point, which is kind of semi-related to some of the others - my main problem with the movies is a problem with me, I think, rather than the series in general; for me, the main trio are probably the least interesting characters. Think of Snape, and how difficult it is to be doing the things he has to to keep Voldemort's trust. Think of the Malfoy, and the fact that he absolutely does not want to be where he is, and there's absolutely nothing he can do to get out of it. There's this wide world of people struggling with the darkness that's overwhelmed them, and the only perspective we really get to see is from the inside of a tent. I still love it ridiculously, but there's so much more that could have been explored. I know this is true for a lot of books, but it probably would have worked better as a TV series. Not that I'm complaining.
There's more to say, but my brain doesn't really want to put the words together. I think that's enough for the day, anyway.
But anyway.
Not quite as jaw-dropping the second time around, even though I saw it on the IMAX screen this time. It did give me a headache, though, which kinda sucked. It's interesting to see what they dropped, and what they kept in. I must have missed this the first time around, but during the seven Potters scene, I'm pretty sure that Tonks was about to tell everyone that she was pregnant, but then Harry took the spotlight. Watching the way she and Lupin are with each other in the seconds afterwards is interesting - he gives her a subtle, comforting kind of gesture that's not really elaborated on. Really, though, it's the kind of subplot that they needed to go all or nothing with. It seems strange to go "by the way guys, we've got something important to tell you" and then not expand on it, then if Teddy shows up in part 2, it's going to be all "huh?". (Also, I like Remus' struggle with werewolfdom, and his reluctance for parenthood reflects that very well).
Part of the problem with that, though, is the fact that the movies haven't really emphasised the minor characters very well. The books did a very good job of showing this world full of hundreds of distinct minor characters, and in the films, it somehow feels as though they're putting too much emphasis on the trio, but I guess that's the point of the story, in the end. (You may have guessed that I really like Tonks, but if you haven't I will say it here: I really like Tonks). In DH, with Lupin and Tonks, and even moreson with Bill and Fleur, it's going to be somewhat confusing for the people who haven't read the books, in a "who are these people, and why should I care about their wedding, kind of way." That said, I think that Bill&Tonks would have made a good couple Nothing to see here. RLNT4ever.
Time constraints, and the constraints of previous films are another reason why some things might come out of left field for people; things like the mirror, and Dobby, and even Dumbledore's funeral - I felt like the scene with Voldemort breaking into the tomb would have had so much more impact if we'd seen the funeral, and even then, it just seems like a really weird scene to leave out of HBP. Also somewhat annoying is the Ginny/Harry ship, but that's not really the sole fault of the movies. Ron/Hermione was built up from day one. They (and Harry) spent all year together, in classes, and fighting evil, and whatnot. Ginny is pretty much absent in 1,3 and 4, and plays semi-important roles in 2 and 5. (Yes, she opened the Chamber of Secrets, and was all important in that regard, but the narrative keeps with Harry, and he didn't interact with her as often as he did with Ron and Hermione). Then, in 6, it's a very much out of nowhere kind of relationship. If I really believed in psychodynamics, I'd say it's because she resembles his mother.
Relationships in the wizarding world are a strange thing. The majority of the ones we've seen have been together since Hogwarts (James & Lily, Molly & Arthur, Harry & Ginny, Ron & Hermione, etc), and married very young - 21ish, for James and Lily, and Molly and Arthur, if the Harry Potter wiki is to be believed. I mean, I know it's not unheard of, but it seems like it's a lot more common for wizards.
And my final point, which is kind of semi-related to some of the others - my main problem with the movies is a problem with me, I think, rather than the series in general; for me, the main trio are probably the least interesting characters. Think of Snape, and how difficult it is to be doing the things he has to to keep Voldemort's trust. Think of the Malfoy, and the fact that he absolutely does not want to be where he is, and there's absolutely nothing he can do to get out of it. There's this wide world of people struggling with the darkness that's overwhelmed them, and the only perspective we really get to see is from the inside of a tent. I still love it ridiculously, but there's so much more that could have been explored. I know this is true for a lot of books, but it probably would have worked better as a TV series. Not that I'm complaining.
There's more to say, but my brain doesn't really want to put the words together. I think that's enough for the day, anyway.