Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie
I just came back from watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
WOW. What an emotional movie! On one hand, it seemed incomplete, like there were many things I would've preferred to be included, but on the other, I thought it was a great adaptation of the emotional content of the book.
I must say that Daniel Radcliffe has matured incredibly in his acting because I completely felt Harry's pain exactly like how it was described by Rowling.
I also have to admit that I teared up more than I thought I would:
- When Umbridge made Harry write his lines in blood ---- I was both revulsed and pained for Harry, yech.
- When Trelawney was booted off. In the book, this was pitiable, but in the movie, it was much more horrifically cruel.
- When Harry and Cho talked about Cedric --- There was a picture of a smiling Cedric *sniff*.
- When Neville told Harry about his parents (also with the old smiling photo :( ).
- When Sirius died --- The way his face just froze up... :(.
- When Harry was possessed by Voldemort and he used his memories with Ron and Hermione to fight him off --- I pretty much just lost it there and bawled my eyes out.
This movie was a lot more dark and subdued than the previous ones. There was definitely less flashy magic action and more serious substance, such as the grave emotional ramifications of death, and political commentary about government that horrifyingly became more authoritarian to keep power --- In short, everything I believe Rowling wanted to say in the book, so BIG kudos to the filmmakers in capturing the main themes.
That said, I must say that there were still some scenes that took my breath away:
- The attack on Harry and Dudley by the Dementors --- The playground in an abandoned field, shot from above; the use of hand-held camera when the boys were running; the tunnel scene... They were all just beautifully-filmed.
- The use black smoke to show the movement of the Death Eaters and the white smoke for the Order members --- This was not book-accurate, but it was also amazingly-shot.
- The Dumbledore v. Voldemort battle. Well, really, how could this scene NOT be amazing?
And there were also light-hearted moments, many of which were courtesy of Ron/Hermione:
- It really seemed that Ron & Hermione got to spend much time on their own :). And they weren't fighting! I love that bit when they came in to the common room, seemingly just finishing a conversation they were having: Hermione said something like, "OK I'll do the first paragraph for you," and Ron, "Hermione, you are honestly the most amazing person I've met and if I'm ever rude to you again..." to which Hermione cut in, "Then I'll know you're back." :D Hee!
- The dueling bit when Hermione got to stupefy him ;).
- The most heartwarming scene was probably when Harry shared his first kiss experience with them and Ron could not stop laughing and then Hermione followed suit :D.
- The scene at the Christmas table, the look and smile they shared over Ron's present.
- Ron being protective of Hermione with Grawp.
These two really do show why Harry has SO MUCH MORE [to fight for] than Voldemort. I love that Harry realized that on his own in the movie and used it to fight Voldemort's possession without Dumbledore's help.
And though Ron/Rupert and Hermione/Emma had less scenes than in previous movies, I think the new screenwriter captured Ron and Hermione better than Steve Kloves ever did (the person who wrote the first four movies and evidently in love with Hermione --- My sister actually commented, "Hermione wasn't as annoying in this one!" after watching). 'Which is why I'm worried about Kloves returning for the sixth movie. Hmmm... Well, nothing I can do anyway.
The other thing I liked was casting:
- Luna was fantastic. The actress portrayed the loony quality well, complete with her unblinking eyes, and made her very sympathetic. I thought she and Harry/Dan had an awesome connection that I wouldn't be surprised if non-readers start shipping Harry/Luna. I like how there was a bit of Neville/Luna in the Hall of Prophesies though (Luna first pulled him away from harm and then Neville did so for her).
- Tonks was very pretty! I liked her and wished there was A LOT more of her. I really really really hope they don't cut out the Lupin/Tonks bit in the next movie, though I'm not sure how the actress would match with David Thewlis (I'm not a fan of his mustache). I actually also saw a bit of Harry/Tonks in this movie too.
- Helena Bonham Carter cannot be more perfect as Bellatrix! In my opinion, both she and Ralph Fiennes brought their characters to life exactly how Rowling wrote them.
- The actress who played Umbridge portrayed her disgusting girly cruel character well. I thought she was still more despicable in the book though.
Some other comments:
- Ginny was gorgeous! Bonnie really grew into her, didn't she? I would've preferred if they kept the Michael Corner storyline, but I liked that they've foreshadowed Harry/Ginny when Ginny looked slightly sad when Harry hung back to talk to Cho after the DA meeting. Btw, speaking of Michael, that black-haired Ravenclaw boy was meant to be him, right? He was cute! And I thought Dean Thomas has grown to be SUCH a good-looking boy as well ;). I hope they keep the Dean/Ginny storyline for #6 and Bonnie gets to make out with the actor a bit ;D (though... I noticed that Ginny was talking to SEAMUS before joining the trio to walk to the train).
- I LOVE that they kept the Seamus fight in. I respected him for the way he apologized to Harry.
- The Twins were fantastic! I would've preferred if their escape was filmed as dramatic as it was in the book, but it was pretty close. On a side note, James and Oliver Phelps looked SO MUCH like the actor who played Arthur!
- I felt so bad for Cho! I didn't like that they made her to be the snitch, but at least it was later on explained by Snape that she'd been given veritaserum.
- I must say that Draco and his cronies looked good! I still don't like them as characters, but I hope for Tom Felton that they'll keep Draco's emotional breakdown in the next movie.
- Snape's flashback scene was much too short. You could hardly notice James, Lily, Sirius, or the other Marauders. But it did get across the point that Snape hated James and his friends because they bullied him mercilessly back in school.
There was much more I still wanted included in the movie and I felt like they could have (the movie being 2.5 hours was actually too short for me). There were a couple of scenes that I suspect non-readers wouldn't catch on quickly. I really hope they put in all the deleted scenes on the DVD or, even better, make an uncut version of the movie!
On the whole though, I felt that they captured the main themes perfectly and, considering how thick this book was, I'm quite amazed at that. I just hope the casual Harry Potter watchers won't find this movie boring due to its lack of usual flashy magic ;).
ARGHHH, Deathly Hallows in TEN DAYS!
WOW. What an emotional movie! On one hand, it seemed incomplete, like there were many things I would've preferred to be included, but on the other, I thought it was a great adaptation of the emotional content of the book.
I must say that Daniel Radcliffe has matured incredibly in his acting because I completely felt Harry's pain exactly like how it was described by Rowling.
I also have to admit that I teared up more than I thought I would:
- When Umbridge made Harry write his lines in blood ---- I was both revulsed and pained for Harry, yech.
- When Trelawney was booted off. In the book, this was pitiable, but in the movie, it was much more horrifically cruel.
- When Harry and Cho talked about Cedric --- There was a picture of a smiling Cedric *sniff*.
- When Neville told Harry about his parents (also with the old smiling photo :( ).
- When Sirius died --- The way his face just froze up... :(.
- When Harry was possessed by Voldemort and he used his memories with Ron and Hermione to fight him off --- I pretty much just lost it there and bawled my eyes out.
This movie was a lot more dark and subdued than the previous ones. There was definitely less flashy magic action and more serious substance, such as the grave emotional ramifications of death, and political commentary about government that horrifyingly became more authoritarian to keep power --- In short, everything I believe Rowling wanted to say in the book, so BIG kudos to the filmmakers in capturing the main themes.
That said, I must say that there were still some scenes that took my breath away:
- The attack on Harry and Dudley by the Dementors --- The playground in an abandoned field, shot from above; the use of hand-held camera when the boys were running; the tunnel scene... They were all just beautifully-filmed.
- The use black smoke to show the movement of the Death Eaters and the white smoke for the Order members --- This was not book-accurate, but it was also amazingly-shot.
- The Dumbledore v. Voldemort battle. Well, really, how could this scene NOT be amazing?
And there were also light-hearted moments, many of which were courtesy of Ron/Hermione:
- It really seemed that Ron & Hermione got to spend much time on their own :). And they weren't fighting! I love that bit when they came in to the common room, seemingly just finishing a conversation they were having: Hermione said something like, "OK I'll do the first paragraph for you," and Ron, "Hermione, you are honestly the most amazing person I've met and if I'm ever rude to you again..." to which Hermione cut in, "Then I'll know you're back." :D Hee!
- The dueling bit when Hermione got to stupefy him ;).
- The most heartwarming scene was probably when Harry shared his first kiss experience with them and Ron could not stop laughing and then Hermione followed suit :D.
- The scene at the Christmas table, the look and smile they shared over Ron's present.
- Ron being protective of Hermione with Grawp.
These two really do show why Harry has SO MUCH MORE [to fight for] than Voldemort. I love that Harry realized that on his own in the movie and used it to fight Voldemort's possession without Dumbledore's help.
And though Ron/Rupert and Hermione/Emma had less scenes than in previous movies, I think the new screenwriter captured Ron and Hermione better than Steve Kloves ever did (the person who wrote the first four movies and evidently in love with Hermione --- My sister actually commented, "Hermione wasn't as annoying in this one!" after watching). 'Which is why I'm worried about Kloves returning for the sixth movie. Hmmm... Well, nothing I can do anyway.
The other thing I liked was casting:
- Luna was fantastic. The actress portrayed the loony quality well, complete with her unblinking eyes, and made her very sympathetic. I thought she and Harry/Dan had an awesome connection that I wouldn't be surprised if non-readers start shipping Harry/Luna. I like how there was a bit of Neville/Luna in the Hall of Prophesies though (Luna first pulled him away from harm and then Neville did so for her).
- Tonks was very pretty! I liked her and wished there was A LOT more of her. I really really really hope they don't cut out the Lupin/Tonks bit in the next movie, though I'm not sure how the actress would match with David Thewlis (I'm not a fan of his mustache). I actually also saw a bit of Harry/Tonks in this movie too.
- Helena Bonham Carter cannot be more perfect as Bellatrix! In my opinion, both she and Ralph Fiennes brought their characters to life exactly how Rowling wrote them.
- The actress who played Umbridge portrayed her disgusting girly cruel character well. I thought she was still more despicable in the book though.
Some other comments:
- Ginny was gorgeous! Bonnie really grew into her, didn't she? I would've preferred if they kept the Michael Corner storyline, but I liked that they've foreshadowed Harry/Ginny when Ginny looked slightly sad when Harry hung back to talk to Cho after the DA meeting. Btw, speaking of Michael, that black-haired Ravenclaw boy was meant to be him, right? He was cute! And I thought Dean Thomas has grown to be SUCH a good-looking boy as well ;). I hope they keep the Dean/Ginny storyline for #6 and Bonnie gets to make out with the actor a bit ;D (though... I noticed that Ginny was talking to SEAMUS before joining the trio to walk to the train).
- I LOVE that they kept the Seamus fight in. I respected him for the way he apologized to Harry.
- The Twins were fantastic! I would've preferred if their escape was filmed as dramatic as it was in the book, but it was pretty close. On a side note, James and Oliver Phelps looked SO MUCH like the actor who played Arthur!
- I felt so bad for Cho! I didn't like that they made her to be the snitch, but at least it was later on explained by Snape that she'd been given veritaserum.
- I must say that Draco and his cronies looked good! I still don't like them as characters, but I hope for Tom Felton that they'll keep Draco's emotional breakdown in the next movie.
- Snape's flashback scene was much too short. You could hardly notice James, Lily, Sirius, or the other Marauders. But it did get across the point that Snape hated James and his friends because they bullied him mercilessly back in school.
There was much more I still wanted included in the movie and I felt like they could have (the movie being 2.5 hours was actually too short for me). There were a couple of scenes that I suspect non-readers wouldn't catch on quickly. I really hope they put in all the deleted scenes on the DVD or, even better, make an uncut version of the movie!
On the whole though, I felt that they captured the main themes perfectly and, considering how thick this book was, I'm quite amazed at that. I just hope the casual Harry Potter watchers won't find this movie boring due to its lack of usual flashy magic ;).
ARGHHH, Deathly Hallows in TEN DAYS!