That was totally worth going to bed at 3:30 am...
First off, a very happy birthday to
scarlett71177! What a great start to your birthday, with Harry Potter of course!
I thought Order of the Phoenix was awesome. Yeah, there were definitely parts I wish could have been included, and things I could have done without, but (the movie would be equal in time to the length of the book, and besides) I think overall that David Yates did an excellent job with telling his story and selling his vision. LOL, that sounds like really... pompous. But bottom line, LOVED IT. And now, in no particular order, some of my thoughts:
THE OPENING
A hot, dry summer in Little Whinging and poor Harry has been cut off for weeks from his friends and the Wizarding world. The confrontation with Dudley and his gang was interesting - although I thought Dudley was just so... creepy and weird, while he was taunting Harry. Oh well.
The Dementor attack was visually awesome, especially with Harry calling forth his Patronus. And we get to see Mrs. Figg at last! Although, I have to say, I expected her to be more batty-looking, if that makes any sense. The Dursley scene was just kind of weird in my opinion - I think Richard Griffins and Fiona Shaw are awesome, but there was just something off in this movie. There was not attempt to throw Harry out and no Dumbledore Howler proclaiming, "Remember my last." The animated letter expelling Harry was great, right down to the purple lips reading the letter out loud. But no additional owls arrive to reassure Harry - And then the Dursleys got into their car and went on their way...
The next thing we know, the Order has arrived to "rescue" Harry. What saddens me is that we never get officially introduced to Tonks or Kingsley. But Natalia Tena = PERFECT TONKS. She was amazing! But we were never told that she's a Metamorphagus (my friend Kelly, who hasn't read the books - blasphemy, I know - had to have this fact explained to her). I hope she's have some actual lines in the next movie. But she looked sooooo badass, it was great.
The flying over London on broomsticks scene was FANTASTIC. But Grimmauld Place wasn't how I imagined it. First of all, Moody simply tapped his cane and the other brownstone-esque homes move apart and we see Grimmauld Place (Isn't it a house? It's totally a house!) No explanation of the Fidelius Charm, or Secret-Keepers, or anything! Inside, however, was definitely dark and dreary enough for me. I do wish they would have shown us the screaming Mrs. Black's portrait, just to see it once. The reunion first between Harry, Ron and Hermione and then later with Harry and Sirius were exactly how I imagined them. The former being full of teenage angst and awkwardness and the latter being heart-warming. And the twins, with their (now legal) ability to perform magic and Apparate - hilarious.
The trial was also how I pictured it, but I'm kind of irked because they never introduced Madame Bones - at least, that who I think she was suppose to be. We also get the first glimpse of Dumbledore and his ignoring of Harry, which doesn't make him feel any better after a desolate and solitary summer. It definitely added to his anger at Dumbledore.
GINNY
We finally, FINALLY see GInny consistently throughout the entire movie and she has lines! OMG, that made me so happy since I absolutely adore Ginny and Bonnie Wright, and I was so glad to actually see her - she's going to be a dynamo in HBP. Sadly, no "Lucky You" or Chocolate in the Library scenes (maybe, just maybe, deleted extras in the DVD? Gah, I can only wish.) but I think you can definitely tell that Ginny is growing up and quite nicely. Her disappointed looks in two scenes (after the initial DA meeting in the Hog's Head, the gang is walking back to the castle; and right before the Harry/Cho kiss, as Ginny is leaving the Room of Requirement) in particular, oh just made my heart break and made me wish for HBP to film already! She's got the kind of stricken, longing glance down pat.
But the best part about Ginny in this film: She is one powerful witch. And we see it! I love how she surprises herself, and everyone in the DA with the power of her spellwork, like "Wow, would you look at that?" Her patronus (which turns out to be a horse in the movie) was one of the first to be cast and Harry's reply of, "That's fantastic Ginny!" was great. Even better, her Reducto curse blasts the dummy Death Eater to SMITHEREENS and Harry and Ginny share this look - Wheee! And her spell in the Hall of Prophecies is what sets off the shockwave of crashing orbs, spectacular! Alright, I guess enough gushing about Ginny - cannot wait until HBP!!!
THE KISS
Although I'm not a fan of Cho, I do have to admit that the first kiss was very sweet. They were both kind of awkward but it was pretty adorable. But I have to gladly admit that I was ecstatic that they show the next scene, where Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting in the Common Room and Harry replies, "It was wet," (because Cho wasn't visibly crying like she suppose to be) and then we had Hermione, being something of a downer, explain how Cho must be feeling about Cedric and pressure and guilt over liking Harry, etc. And then we have Ron's "emotional range of a teaspoon" quote - loved it! And speaking of...
RON
He's still a little awkward (I think it's the way he stands) but we finally get to see the Ron I've always pictured. No more whimpering face or simply saying "Bloody hell" all time. Ron stands up for Harry in the Gryffindor Common Room, and he's the loyal and brave best friend, working with him to establish the DA and faithfully following to the Ministry when they believe Sirius is in danger. And we also get to see hints of the Ron/Hermione relationship for once! Thank you David Yates and the writers. Thank you. I think Rupert Grint did an excellent job!
DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY
We don't get introduced all the members of the DA, but the group itself is how I pictured it. And I love how we kept going back to scenes of the DA, being taught by Harry and learning and practicing new spells. Neville turns out to be the one to discover the Room of Requirement, and watching Filch try to catch the DA in the act is hilarious. I absolutely loved when Ron and Hermione faced off and, of course, Hermione knocked him on his butt, and Rupert's line of "I let her do that..." while Hermione is surrounded by the other girls, laughing and congratulating her was great.
UMBRIDGE
Yes, she is as nasty and underhanded but sugar-coated as you probably imagined. Her outfits were to die for hilarious - the amounts of pink, tweed, fluff and stuff was incredible. And her office?! Oh. My. Gosh. The pink stone walls and the cat plates and even a picture of Fudge on her desk! It's like, you know how sinister she is, but you're caught unawares until she strikes - either with her Education Decrees or her detention with the blood quill. And you see her getting crazier and crazier the more power she is given and the more she interferes with Hogwarts on "behalf of the Ministry." Imelda Staunton was magnificient, the perfect Um-bitch.
LOONEY LOVEGOOD
Evanna Lynch = exactly how I pictured Luna Lovegood, right down to the big eyes and way to speaking with this far away, breathy voice. With her wild blond hair, quirky clothes (and lack of shoes for one scene) - She was just totally in her own little world, as I'm sure JKR meant for her to be, but she was also able to provide empathy and explain this to Harry. I'm irked though that Hermione was the one who introduced her to Harry and the other, and Ginny wasn't even there. WRONG. Ginny was Luna's friend first and foremost, but I digress... And the comments about the Nargles - I was laughing so hard! Especially since Nargles became a sort of running bit in the film.
BATTLE AT THE MINISTRY
WOW. That's all I could say. I was literally sitting there the entire time, holding my breath and watching the action taking place. The sextet vs. Death Eaters in the Hall of Prophecies. Then when they moved to the room with the veil. And then we have the entrance of the Order - that was a DOUBLE WOW. What I said about Tonks looking badass before? Yeah, that's right. And when Sirius gets hit with Bellatrix's and falls through the veil... The way they ended up doing it was that pretty much all sound was cut except for some very quiet music. So you see Sirius realizing he's been hit and is falling, you see Bellatrix's satisfaction at getting him, you see Sirius materialize into the veil, Harry rushing after him and Lupin holding Harry back. It was all very haunting and chilling and moving, IMO. Definite tears on my part, ohmigosh.
Then Harry goes tearing off after Bellatrix and they end up in the Ministry Atrium and in steps Voldemort. Dumbledore arrives and the big fight begins and it was AMAZING. Just the power and spells flying and the struggle between the two, all the while Dumbledore is trying to shield Harry and Voldemort is trying to get him. And then when Voldemort possesses Harry - you can see how far Dan has come in his acting, it was just all so perfect. We saw flashes of visions throughout the film, but now we saw clips of the earlier films that I guess were the visualization of Harry's heart and his love for his friends/"family." And as he's lying on the Ministry floor, fighting off Voldemort, telling Voldemort how he will never understand love or friendship and that he pities him, I just started crying all over again. It was creepy and perfect all at the same time, with Voldemort looming over Harry saying, "You will lose everything." And then he disappears as Ministry officials show up and Dumbledore holds Harry's body in his arms. It was amazing.
A FEW THINGS THAT I WISH WERE INCLUDED
Obviously, Chocolate in the Library and the "Lucky You" scenes.
Visiting St. Mungo's, where we see Gilderoy Lockhart again, and meet Neville's grandmum and parents. Instead, after Bellatrix escapes from Azkaban, Neville confides in Harry about his mum and dad.
No Lily in Snape's memory! ARGH. Therefore, no interaction between James and Lily, no "I'd rather date the Giant Squid" and the young James Potter doesn't say much either. So we didn't get to see them lounging by the lake, no James playing with the Snitch and running his hand through his hair - I mean, I barely saw Sirius or Remus in the memory. AND, it's never addressed by Lupin and Sirius that they were all gits when they were young and at Hogwarts, and that Lily and James really loved one another.
No Quidditch, which meant no "Weasley Is My King" (Once again, maybe a deleted scene on the DVD? Hopeful!) and no Quidditch final where my girl Ginny catches the Snitch, therefore beating Cho and securing the Quidditch Cup! *Grrrr*
No Angry!Harry after the Ministry/Voldemort battle, throwing things in Dumbledore's Office. In fact, Harry heard the prophecy in the Ministry and Dumbledore never sits down and explains it to him. Let's see how the filmmakers get themselves out of that one.
There so much more that I want to remember and talk about, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. I understand that not everything could be included, so I guess my imagination will just fill in the blanks for me. Now I need to get back to real work and try to make it through the rest of the day on a few hours sleep. But like I said, TOTALLY WORTH IT. I think I'll have to go see it in theaters again.