Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Went Friday afternoon to see it for the first time, and went to the earliest showing possible not 3D this morning. I loved it even more the second time. I did find that it helped that I haven't read the book in years, so I had only the vaguest recognition that things had been left out or changed.
Things I loved:
* Neville! Neville has been one of my favorites since way before even book 5 came out, to the point where I played him in an RPG lo these many years ago. So of course I loved those scenes in the book, and the movie did SUCH a good job portraying the extreme awesomeness of Neville.
* Daniel Radcliffe is an amazing actor. This is not something I would have expected a few years ago, but he is. Especially in a) that scene with Aberforth, and b) just after he sees the pensieve and finds out he has to die. Oh, HARRY. Harry is my favorite character, and I just love how DR was able to show how much Harry has grown up, and how much the everything has weighed on him.
* Minverva McGonagall is awesome, the end. Actually, she started off the waterworks for me. When she told Harry she was glad to see him. And then when she a) steps in to protect Harry from Snape, and then b) sets off the spell to protect the castle and admits she's always wanted to do that. :-)
* SNAPE! Love Snape. Love that when Minerva moved to protect Harry, he only defended himself, didn't attack, and basically made sure to get the Carrows out of the way. Also, his whole death scene and the pensieve scene were just great. *sniffle*
* Aberforth! Ciaran Hinds did an amazing job as Aberforth - he made him real and important with just one scene.
* Luna being her awesome Luna-self as always, but then also demanding that Harry LISTEN TO HER. And I loved the Luna/Neville scene at the end. Yes, I know it's not canon, but IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
* Loved Narcissa Malfoy to the point where I have reconciled myself to her multicolored hair. Loved her saving Harry but only after confirming Draco still lived, and then her getting Draco out of there before things got any worse. (Loved Lucius scurrying behind them, too.)
* Never been a huge fan of book or movie Draco. I've always preferred fanfic Draco. However, I really liked him here, especially in the Epilogue scene, where it's clear he's decided to be a different kind of father than his own father.
* I know people aren't a fan of the Epilogue. Heck, I'm not either. But I did like the way they handled it. I know Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all looked too young - particularly Ginny - but I'd rather that than 40 years too old, which is apparently what they originally went with. And I loved how grown-up!Harry dealt with Albus Serverus' fears.
* Warwick Davis did great both as Griphook and Professor Flitwick. Especially as Griphook.
Things I didn't like:
* Felt like they took just a little too long with people scrambling about the castle at the end, and I'm not saying that just because I REALLY had to go to the restroom by that point and couldn't have gotten out of the row even if I'd wanted to. Wish they'd shortened the fight after Harry comes back, and although the visual with Harry & Voldemort going off the edge was cool, and the SFX after was cool, I could easily have done without all the flying about and grimacing.
* Not a big fan of Voldemort disintegrating and blowing away; seems odd. Also, you just know there are people out there who will never believe Harry dealt with him because there was no body, dagnabbit.
* Harry/Ginny. Sorry, movie, as amazing as DR's acting was, the one thing he couldn't sell me on was Harry/Ginny. As many have said, there is no chemistry between them whatsoever. Although I'm not that big a fan of Ron/Hermione, either, I at least bought their relationship in the movie, and their kiss. Harry and Ginny? Not so much. Also, wow do she and the Lily actress(es) look alike.
* Wish we'd gotten to see a bit more of the secondary/tertiary characters. Some of them were lucky to even be in the background of the shot (I'm told Percy was there, but I wasn't able to pick him out either time). I know they were pressed for time, but this is the LAST MOVIE, dagnabbit. I wanted to see EVERYBODY.
Other stuff:
* Seen a lot of comments wondering why Voldemort hugged Draco/talking about the awkwardness of same. Personally, I think it's because he's a creepy creeper. Poor Draco; I'd be feeling awkward, too. Ick.
* Felt SO BAD for that poor dragon in Gringotts! Chained up and tortured for so long and finally free! Like ... someone else I can't remember said, I hope it wings its way to Charlie in Romania so he can look after it properly.
This entry was originally posted at http://beck-liz.dreamwidth.org/110578.html. You may comment there using OpenID, or you may comment here.
have commented there.
Things I loved:
* Neville! Neville has been one of my favorites since way before even book 5 came out, to the point where I played him in an RPG lo these many years ago. So of course I loved those scenes in the book, and the movie did SUCH a good job portraying the extreme awesomeness of Neville.
* Daniel Radcliffe is an amazing actor. This is not something I would have expected a few years ago, but he is. Especially in a) that scene with Aberforth, and b) just after he sees the pensieve and finds out he has to die. Oh, HARRY. Harry is my favorite character, and I just love how DR was able to show how much Harry has grown up, and how much the everything has weighed on him.
* Minverva McGonagall is awesome, the end. Actually, she started off the waterworks for me. When she told Harry she was glad to see him. And then when she a) steps in to protect Harry from Snape, and then b) sets off the spell to protect the castle and admits she's always wanted to do that. :-)
* SNAPE! Love Snape. Love that when Minerva moved to protect Harry, he only defended himself, didn't attack, and basically made sure to get the Carrows out of the way. Also, his whole death scene and the pensieve scene were just great. *sniffle*
* Aberforth! Ciaran Hinds did an amazing job as Aberforth - he made him real and important with just one scene.
* Luna being her awesome Luna-self as always, but then also demanding that Harry LISTEN TO HER. And I loved the Luna/Neville scene at the end. Yes, I know it's not canon, but IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
* Loved Narcissa Malfoy to the point where I have reconciled myself to her multicolored hair. Loved her saving Harry but only after confirming Draco still lived, and then her getting Draco out of there before things got any worse. (Loved Lucius scurrying behind them, too.)
* Never been a huge fan of book or movie Draco. I've always preferred fanfic Draco. However, I really liked him here, especially in the Epilogue scene, where it's clear he's decided to be a different kind of father than his own father.
* I know people aren't a fan of the Epilogue. Heck, I'm not either. But I did like the way they handled it. I know Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all looked too young - particularly Ginny - but I'd rather that than 40 years too old, which is apparently what they originally went with. And I loved how grown-up!Harry dealt with Albus Serverus' fears.
* Warwick Davis did great both as Griphook and Professor Flitwick. Especially as Griphook.
Things I didn't like:
* Felt like they took just a little too long with people scrambling about the castle at the end, and I'm not saying that just because I REALLY had to go to the restroom by that point and couldn't have gotten out of the row even if I'd wanted to. Wish they'd shortened the fight after Harry comes back, and although the visual with Harry & Voldemort going off the edge was cool, and the SFX after was cool, I could easily have done without all the flying about and grimacing.
* Not a big fan of Voldemort disintegrating and blowing away; seems odd. Also, you just know there are people out there who will never believe Harry dealt with him because there was no body, dagnabbit.
* Harry/Ginny. Sorry, movie, as amazing as DR's acting was, the one thing he couldn't sell me on was Harry/Ginny. As many have said, there is no chemistry between them whatsoever. Although I'm not that big a fan of Ron/Hermione, either, I at least bought their relationship in the movie, and their kiss. Harry and Ginny? Not so much. Also, wow do she and the Lily actress(es) look alike.
* Wish we'd gotten to see a bit more of the secondary/tertiary characters. Some of them were lucky to even be in the background of the shot (I'm told Percy was there, but I wasn't able to pick him out either time). I know they were pressed for time, but this is the LAST MOVIE, dagnabbit. I wanted to see EVERYBODY.
Other stuff:
* Seen a lot of comments wondering why Voldemort hugged Draco/talking about the awkwardness of same. Personally, I think it's because he's a creepy creeper. Poor Draco; I'd be feeling awkward, too. Ick.
* Felt SO BAD for that poor dragon in Gringotts! Chained up and tortured for so long and finally free! Like ... someone else I can't remember said, I hope it wings its way to Charlie in Romania so he can look after it properly.
This entry was originally posted at http://beck-liz.dreamwidth.org/110578.html. You may comment there using OpenID, or you may comment here.
have commented there.