hp rambles

[atomicduck]

Sorry, fandom calls.

I saw HP6 almost 2 weeks ago, but went to Korea the next day so forgot to write anything about it. And Korea was nice, thanks for asking. ;) I learned Korean for "excuse me" (Sil-le-hamnida), but apparently nobody uses it. They just knock into your shoulders and glare at you. But haggling was fun (when it wasn't tiresome)... and shopping well to midnight! Every city should have the option of late-night shopping. Seoul is like a weird mix of Shanghai and Tokyo. Dusty, but not Beijing. I wish Koreans still used hanja just so I could understand more things (as opposed to nothing). Also got tired of being ethnically profiled for the purposes of having wares hawked to me.


HP 6: The Half-Blood Prince

To start straight off: I liked this better than movie 4 and 5, the first of which was atrocious and the latter was mostly just tolerable.

It is not better than 1-3, imo, but I quite liked it. Excellent colour palette and cinematography. Beautifully framed shots. Art direction was superb. Music was superb. But that's expected.

Down to the nitty-gritty content.

Dislikes:

• No Lucius, what! :(
• Narcissa not being distressed enough at Spinner's End.
• Narcissa having stupid hair.
• Narcissa not being cast to my pleasure.
• Snape not winding Bellatrix up like in the book. It was hilarious! Why didn't they keep it in?
• Hogwarts being some sort of gross orgy school. These kids should be studying, too, no?
• Most of Voldemort's backstory being cut out. That was important!
• No Ralph Fiennes. Although there WAS a mini-Fiennes as baby YKW.
• We, the viewers, forgot about the Half-Blood Prince for 98% of the movie. The reveal lost its impact in consequence, kind of like, "Snape is who again?" Plus, how could the audience remember that Harry learned certain things from the book, e.g. Sectumsempra, when it barely flashed across the scene for 2 seconds?
• Less than even 2 seconds of Fred and George.
• Too much Ginny. But that can't be helped. I'm just opposed on principle.
• No Tonks and Remus substory... but it was kind of unnecessary, so I get why they cut most of Tonks out.
• No battle at Hogwarts, which I think lessened the OMFG!SINKINGSTOMACH/APOCALYPSE! feeling that occurred near the end of the book.
• WHERE WAS DRACO'S CRUCIATUS? I know this is totally a Greedo-shot-first anal retentive quibble, but I think it makes a difference to character! The bathroom scene is SO IMPORTANT (to me, at least--) and they fucked up on who shot first! Also, cry harder, Draco. I want to see you snivelling and weak and vulnerable. You're so lovely when you cry, honey... err, I mean.
• I didn't like how they handled the Astronomy Tower scene either. I don't believe Harry would've stood around and done NOTHING while Dumbledore was outnumbered. If he was Petrified, it explains his lack of action better. Also, Draco was being egged on by Death Eaters in the movie, which detracted from the FREE WILL aspect of that tense scene. Snape shouldn't have stepped in and killed Dumbledore before Draco could be shown to make his significant decision. I want the viewers to SEE that Draco, under no immediate and external duress, could do the right thing. I feel like the moviemakers missed part of the big message on his character: they got that he had no choice under Voldemort's threats, but didn't address that even though he was being threatened, Draco still made the choice to not be a killer, even though he has it in him to initiate evil (re: the Cruciatus that didn't happen in the bathroom!).

Those are my biggest complaints.

Now to the loves.

Likes:

• The opening. Was very different from the other movies in that a good overview of Muggle London was given. Plus waitress was hot. Why didn't Harry go with her? :)
• Slughorn was excellent. Just excellent.
• Luna was wonderful. I just LOVE Luna. I could eat her up. Why are you so precious, Evanna Lynch? D:
• Blaise Zabini makes an appearance!
• Cormac McLaggen is SOOO skeevy and hilarious. I cannot believe it!
• Ron was a Quidditch stud. By the way, who's been feeding Rupert Grint? Kid's got biceps the size of my thighs, now.


• The scene with Katie Bell poisoned is genuinely terrifying.
• I like that the writers made the decision to let us in on Draco's journey towards repairing the Vanishing Cabinet. It's a better way to portion out the information to the viewers. Show, not tell, right?
• Lavender is nauseatingly perfect, lol.
• Harry high on the Felix Felicis potion is pretty hilarious. I love that they had Aragog. And that Harry did the "pincers" thing. Very cute.
• Despite all my griping about the little things they didn't get right about Draco, he looks fantastic. Yes, I am so shallow, but I've not much liked movie-Draco (except movie 1) until this point and this is as right as they'll ever get him, looks and characterization-wise. Thanks, Tom Felton, for finally making me understand your jailbait appeal.


• Regulus cameo! I'm so relieved they didn't just cut him out and mention him in passing later in movie 7/8. I love Regulus. Have I mentioned that before?
• The journey Dumbledore took Harry on near the end was blow-by-blow perfect. Very eerie and I was still startled by the Inferi hand even though it was obvious that it was coming. Also, the fire thing Dumbledore pulled was SO Gandalf-as-played-by-Sir-Ian-McKellan.


• The Death Eaters victoriously leaving Hogwarts with Bellatrix skipping through the Great Hall destructively left a strong impact on me. The imagery and the way it was shot-- with the DE as triumphant conquerors-- was simultaneously thrilling but horrifying for the tragedy happening to the school.
• I did like the final scene Harry had with Snape even though there was less DESPERATION pouring out of his ears. Rickman is great.

In summary, I think my obsession with the Malfoys and Blacks is showing, and I still am tolerating movie-Harry alright. Radcliffe is still kind of a stiff actor, but I'm glad Draco's character gets more range. Hermione and Ron were cute. Film gets a thumbs up!