back to spells and enchantments, potions and friends
Okay so I really really need to be asleep because I have to go to work in a few hours... but I'm just getting back from seeing Half-Blood Prince and my mind is swimming. So, thoughts from the movie!
GOOD
Daniel Radcliffe. Holy crow has he grown as an actor! He absolutely dominated this movie. Just... brilliant. I will admit that my crush on this boy has just grown significantly... and that's saying something, as I was already in love with him to begin with.
Emma Watson. Usually, I absolutely hate her as Hermione - but for some reason, in this movie, she was actually very believable. There were still times when I wanted to pluck out her eyebrows, but for the most part she was fantastic. I still say that her hair should always look like it does in the scene where she's frazzled in Potions class, though, but that's just me.
Draco Malfoy. I wasn't sure whether to label this as 'Tom Felton' or 'Draco', but I went with the latter mostly because I was impressed with the way the character was handled in the script. It didn't bother me that we saw what he was up to the entire time, rather than be surprised at the end, and the mix between the vulnerability and the stronger facade of the character was really well executed. Loved the scene where he breaks down in the bathroom.
That scene between Harry and Hermione after Ron & Lav get together. Sometimes, the movies add in wonderful little scenes that feel like they've come straight from the books... and this is one of them. Harry and Hermione comfort each other after Hermione shoots the birds she's conjured at Ron (which is pretty much straight from the book). "How does it feel, watching Ginny snog someone else?" "Exactly like this." Baaaaaaaaawwwwwww.
The Memories. I'm still sort of iffy about the amount of information left out from these excursions (no Morfin&Merope, no Hepzibah Smith, no explanation for the ever-changing DADA position), but the way these memories were executed was really neat. Loved how disjointed they were, in terms of continuity. Stuff like that can be brilliant when done correctly.
The Trio, really. The chemistry between the three of them is really brilliant, especially when it's just the 3 of them chatting by themselves. The scene in the Burrow where they're all chatting in their pajamas sticks out.
The cinematography. Absolutely gorgeous.
The interaction between Harry and Slughorn. This is a huge change from the books, in terms of Harry's character, but one that I love. In the book, Harry is quick to avoid Slughorn at any cost, because he hates the attention bestowed upon him. However, in the movie, Harry asks Dumbledore "You said he would try to collect me... should I let him?" and suddenly Slughorn is the one avoiding Harry, who does everything he can to get in Slughorn's best books. It enhances Harry's connection and loyalty to Dumbledore, and gives the ending an even greater impact.
Dumbledore drinking the potion. Seriously, almost terrifying.
OKAY
Lavender Brown. I'm still heavily torn on what they did with her. Works from a comedic film standpoint, but, uh. What the hell.
Sectumsempra. Could've been bloodier, honestly. My initial reaction was "Oh, so he's got a few scratches on him, big deal."
BAD
Bonnie Wright. Okay, I'm sorry, but Ginny is my favourite character and you have turned her into the most boring creature ever. I just... ugh. I won't get started. I'll be here all night (morning?).
Harry/Ginny. It's sad that, out of everything, this is the thing I am most upset about. There are only two moments that I can recall where this relationship is really believable - that first hug when Harry arrives at the Burrow and at the end where she comforts sobbing Harry after Dumbledore dies. Well, okay, I suppose I should revise that: I only ever believe it, outside of these moments, from Harry. When he's watching her or talking about her with Hermione, you really believe it. And then you see the two of them together and it's just awkward. Plus, they've cut the whole premise of the relationship. It's like Dean fell off the face of the earth roundabout Christmas; there was no tension or anything. I just... what. Oh, yeah, and they never broke up. Or even spoke again after Dumbledore's death. Just a quick "oh, Ron's okay with you seeing Ginny" from Hermione and that's it. Unfortunately, I chalk a lot of this up to the rewrite of Ginny's character due to Bonnie... I mean, I can't picture her in a screaming match with Ron, can you?
Snape. Okay, I loved Snape's new Farrah Fawcett hairdo, but this is a screenplay FAIL. Scenes that should have been omitted: 01. Snape's conversation with Dumbledore about "what if I don't want to keep doing this anymore?". 02. Snape shushing Harry to keep him from being seen right before he goes to kill Dumbledore.
No funeral. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww man.
I probably had a few other things to say, but I am EXHAUSTED.
I need to see it again. ♥