Deathly Hallows Part 1: my spazz-tastic review
yea, it's a photo i've used already, but i love the three individual photos together like that, so i'm using it again. so the movie. i waited a couple of days to write this because i was on a total high right after seeing it, and well, my opinion would have definitely been clouded and hazed. besides, i simply had no words to describe finally watching the penultimate movie in this insane franchise.
so now, days later, lol, i still don't really know what to say, or even how to start this. i still stand by what i said right after seeing the movie: it is amazing.
but like all book-adapted movies, it (of course) was not perfect. but damn close to it i would say. there weren't too many things that i disliked. just more little things here and there.
man, there's so much to say that i don't know where to start. at the same time, i don't even know what to say, or how to even say what i'm thinking. you know, there's nothing i disliked about this movie, so i'm going to
divide this like this:
what could have been done better
1.The Dursleys' departure
simply put, why did they cut out Dudley's redeeming moment? i know the answer to that, but still i would have liked to see that moment between the two. J. Rowling finally gave Dudley a moment, and it wasn't included. and it was a tear-jerker of a moment in the book, so i'm disappointed it wasn't included.
2. Lack of explaining... things
lol, there wasn't just one instance of this, so i had to brief it like that. but observing this from my friend who has never read the books, there were things that were included but never explained. First there was Bill Weasley's introduction (at last!) and his wedding with Fleur. My friend said to me "wtf? when did that happen?" that should have been explained briefly. then there was that two-way mirror. it was important to the books and was introduced so many books ago. if they were only going to bring it in now, they should have just at least explained what it was, how it worked, and how Harry got it. that would have just been, what, an extra minute of dialogue.
3. The talking patronus
you only saw one instance of this in the movie, which was supposed to be with Kingsley's and that was sad. it was just a ball of glowing light. i wanted to really see the patronus in the animal form.
4. Discovering R.A.B.
lol, it really was a nothing moment; anti-climatic, really. not like the moment of revelation i had when it was uncovered in the book.
5. Ron's return
i felt like it was down-played from the heavy moment that it really was. the destroying the horcrux part was fine. that was brilliantly done. but after he'd destroyed the horcrux, they tried to make light of the situation instead of really establishing where Harry and Hermoine stand. =S and i really, really wanted Hermione to beat on Ron when she saw him again. and Harry's line, about Dumbledore always knowing Ron would want to comeback... that should have been left in as was.
6. Hermione tortured
Hermione being tortured, gruesome and exactly as horrific as i imagined. Ron's reaction while she was being tortured, not at all what it was in the book. i really wanted him to scream his heart out and go ballistic every time he heard her scream.
7. Harry/Ginny
now i'm not gonna rip on the actual pairing. i actual don't have an opinion on them. but ever since they were introduced in HP6, i've always had one though for that on-screen pairing: random. of course there really wasn't books and books of build up like the OTP, but at least in the books, you really got that they liked each other, loved each other even. you could really feel it, and it was like, "okay, good. they're good." but in the movies, its like, the kind of just threw the two together and said "so, Harry and Ginny are a thing, okay?" with no build up. and you know, i wouldn't be too bothered with that if they actually had chemistry, but they don't. =S they really don't. i don't get anything from the two at all. so, i'm just going to think of them and think of their book counterparts. because those two convince me. movie Harry/Ginny... not so much.
liked/loved/totally awesome
1. Voldemort and his Death Eaters in the opening scene.
perfect way to set the tone to the movie(s). it was disturbing alright.
2. The 7 Harry's/escape to the Burrows
it was beautifully and perfectly executed. it was just as hilarious and unbelievable as when i'd read it. they did very well adapting that into film. and Dan was hilariously brilliant. and the chase scene with Hagrid/Harry and the Death Eaters was awesome. it was just so much more than what i read in the book.
3. The deaths (with the exception of Wormtail)
now while i didn't cry for each death like i did while reading (and i've explain that reaction by the fact that it's very hard for me to cry these days in movie theatres) each one was realy heavy on the heart. Hedwig, Mad-Eye, and Dobby. each one just had me hurting and screaming no from the loss.
that said, i'm disappointed Wormtail's was not included, and changed into... that. i'm still a little confussed, too, as to weather he was just stunned, or there was a more fatal consequence.
4. Ministry of Magic scene
the whole scene was hilarious. those three adult actors playing our trio played they hilariously. and it was pretty much as i'd imagined it. although can someone tell me whether that woman kissing Ron, was that in the book? or something they added? cause from my memory i don't remember it happening.
5. Trio on the run
i couldn't imagine how they were going to do it, so i more or less had no expectations of this. but, it turned out really well. i could really feel the tension between those three and the strain in their relationships. it was good. that being said...
6. Rupert Grint
i've loved Ruper since pretty much the beginning, but he's grown so much each and every movie. and this one? well lets just say he made a majority of this movie for movie. i love every scene he's in. he's just so brilliant. and can i take a shallow moment to say our man's been beefing up?! yum. and i swoon everytime he comes on screen.
7. Ron's departure
yup, bravo boys. you fought brilliantly. and yes, it's my Rupert grint favoritism coming in, but he was amazing in that scene.
8. The Tale of the Three Brothers
i honestly wasn't expecting them to do more than just tell the story by word of mouth. but having it in animation and narrated was a brilliant idea. my hats off to whoever came up with that.
and last by not least:
9. Ron/Hermione
let it be said, if people haven't noticed by now, that i am a serious Ron/Hermione shipper. and that being said, every Ron/Hermione moment was my favourite. and i'm not just talking the big moments, like his departure, his return and that. even just the little moments between them that they created were moments of total magic. after saying what non-chemistry i was getting from movie Harry/Ginny, my OTP's chemistry was awesome. as ackward as those two actors must feel, they do a real good job of acting like their in love with each other. and i must state my favourite moments. there are so many, but i'll narrow it down to three: (1) the moment when Ron arrives at the Burrows after the chase in the beginning. Hermione running up to him and hugging him *swoon* (2) the moment at the piano in Grimmauld place where he's just looking at her while she tries to teach him piano. *swoonx2* and my absolute favourite scene: (3) the moment in the cafe where Ron tells Hermione to modify the Death Eaters' memories. there's a moment in there where Ron softly touches and Hermione's face *swoon*dies*
and that's that. i've stated my verdict earlier, but let me reiterate: the movie is awesome. as with any adaptation, there were part that could have been better. but there was never really anything that made me go "wtf did they do to my book?!" it was all good. and it achieved making me antsy and dreading watching the last movie (dreading because i don't want it to be
the end).
overall ratings
book-to-film: 4/5
just as a movie: 4.5/5
and now we must wait for the finale.