I Wordled it and the largest words were "just know really like Harry movie" Sounds about right.
I went this afternoon with Ma (who said to me last night, "Who said I'm even going to the movie?" To which I answered "Who are you kidding? You've been watching Potter all week!)", my sister (who figured that since we were going to 2D and she'd seen it in 3D, it was like seeing it again, but different) and my friends' 9 year old daughter. We had two really excited Potterheads, bags of candy (because when a small soda is $2.50 and a box of movie candy is $2.75 that's what you do) and 2 hours and 5 minutes until it all ends... for real. In short, I really liked it. But who really ever wants to read the short version of things?
Before I went to bed Wednesday night I came up with an idea. I never really do anything when I go to these movies. I've never been to a midnight showing and, until today, have never been to any of the movies with anyone who cared about it as much as I do. I didn't like to dress up as a child, so I am definite not the dress-up kind of adult. But I still wanted to do something. You know, because it's the last time this will ever happen. So I bought a shirt, got out my acryllic paint and fabric paint medium and painted myself up a shirt. My camera is broken, so you will have to settle for this artistic rendering.
I am thinking that before my friend goes to the IMAX theater, I will do what I originally intended and put Team Weasley on the back. Sadly I could not make the other one I wanted because....well, you should have seen the face Ma made when I was like, "If I made a Team Riddle shirt, would you wear it?" I thought it was a good idea... red slits for eyes and a Slytherin tie. I tell you,nobody appreciates a good bad guy anymore.
Have you seen that macro that's a lil cartoon guy crying at the movie, and he's all "No, not this part!!" and it's the opening WB? I didn't tear up, but as soon as it came up, I was like, "Oh. This is really it. The beginning of the end." That made me a little sad.
Oh, I watched part 1 again last night and it really improved upon the second viewing. Much like the book. As such, I had not really built this one up that much. I'd only seen one commercial, like 20 stills and read two reviews. I wanted to go in free of all that and just watch it. That really worked for me, because while I had to explain a few things to the non-readers I went to see it with, I didn't come out raging like I have before. The only thing I wanted to see that I did not was the whole Dumbledore's backstory thing,but the movie did not feel like it missed anything not having it.
I liked how it felt like a reunion of sorts. Everyone made an appearance and did what you expected them to do. I enjoyed watching big crowd scenes and picking out all of the people who had not been around in ages. I loved that Seamus, Neville and Dean all made an appearances and laughed out loud at McGonagall's little callback to Seamus' skills and blowing things up. I even got excited to see Filch and Mrs. Norris. Not so much Lavender Brown, but you know, they can't all be winners.
The battle was amazing (and long) and the fact that, for once, everyone played a role was great. It's never been just Harry's fight, so for everyone, not just Ron and Hermione, to be involved in the biggest of ways, was cool.
Question: Why was everyone at Hogwarts in uniform except Harry's friends?
I've never really cared about Luna Lovegood (too weird), but I really liked her in this one. I know she does not end up with Neville, but I think she should have. Then again, I also think she'd be better for Harry than Ginny, so maybe I don't really know what I'm talking about in that regard.
The Prince's Tale was great. It crammed a whole lot in, but I thought it was fitting that Snape finally got to tell his story. Sure I rolled my eyes a bit at the "Oh, he loved her his entire life, and would do anything for her!" but that's just what I do. I probably did it when I read the book, but it was just so extra dramatic on the screen that in the back of my mind I was like "Quit making Snape look like a sap! He is a badass!" It's cook though... his simultaneous love for Lilly and hatred of James allows him some depth he didn't have before, without erasing all of his years of intense jerktitude RE: Harry Potter. I was happy everyone finally got to see what his real motivations were,and was sad that it took until the final movie for him to get such a substantial part in things. That has been the scene I have been most looking forward to since the book came out, and I'm pleased with how it turned out.
Voldemort did not do much. That made me sad. He did go out in grand style though. You've got to give him that.
I actually missed The Trio. Once they hit Hogwarts, this film was all about Harry doing his thing, and the other two off as Ron-and-Hermione. After watching them act as three for so long, it was a bit disjointing having Harry do all of this stuff and the other two just kind of float in and out of his orbit every half hour or so. It was as if they were like, "Yes. We are still here! " and then exit stage right. It just wasn't the same.
When Ron and Hermione kissed, my mom was like "Oh!" Just yesterday she said "You know, about Hermione and..." "What?" "I just can't see them together." and when I was like, "Who?" she said "Never mind." She was on screen with Harry, so she may have meant Harry and Hermione, but they were taking about Ron. I said "What movies have you been watching? Wait, you mean Hermione and Harry? I don't understand." But she would not explain. It was very confusing. I took her "Oh!" as a victory for all that is right. The entire theater laughed at "That's my girlfriend!" I feel like one of those True Blood "Needs more Eric!" people, but you know... my boy was missing for a lot of the movie.
Another theater highlight was when Molly Weasley finally gave Bellatrix LeStrange what I have been wanting her to get since about the third time she appeared on my screen. Oh, sweet, sweet justice! How long I have waited for you. I wanted to clap, but was afraid that that would be too much, you know, in front of other people and all. Then the entire theater started clapping! The lady next to me watched the entire first part of the movie under the misguided belief that Bellatrix was dead. When Hermione was in Gringott's she was all, "They know it's not really her because she's dead!" I wanted to be like, "No." but I said nothing. She also let out a loud, "I KNEW he would do something stupid like that!" when Harry snapped the Elder Wand.
Fred's death really came out of nowhere. I remember it being bigger in the book -- you actually knew it had happened. In the film I wasn't sure it had really happened until I saw all of the mourning Weasleys. The first time the twins appeared on screen and it was all, "You okay? Yeah, me too." I was like "Brace yourself. You know it's coming". Sad Weasleys make me sad. I will miss them most of all.
Having Tonks say "something something something my husband" and "Wait til you hear the news" and Harry ask Dead Lupin, "What about your son?" was not enough to merit inclusion. Either you go, "Hey, these two are married and have a now-orphaned son named Teddy!" or just leave it out entirely. Then again, I never really bought into that relationship even in the books,so I really shouldn't care.
You know what else was sad? The Malfoys. Man, Lucius was just a shell of his former self there at the end. You'd have thought he'd be basking in the glory of being You-Know-Who's Right-Hand Man... but no. He's had a hard two-part film. Most awkward moment: when Draco crossed over to the Dark Side and Voldemort pulled him in for the most awwwwwwkward hug ever. I must say I did not even remember what happened in that scene, but for a second I thought Draco was not going to join his family. His heart hasn't been in it for two movies, and I thought he was just over it enough to stand with his schoolmates over the Death Eaters.
One of the things I was always sad about being cut from the books was just how important Neville really is to everything. He could have been The Boy Who Lived, and no one knows that. I mention it every time I leave a movie. That's how seriously I take it. Ever since any mention of his part of things was left out of the explanation of the prophecy, I've been making sure the people around me know about him and how central of a character he really should be. When he picked up the sorting hat and you could hear the metallic noise, I was like, "Oh yeah! Here we go!" When he started walking towards Voldemort I literally sat up in my seat. He didn't do anything though, so I had to sit back. But I was ready. You should have heard the crowd gasp when they thought he was about to join the Death Eaters. When he sliced Nagini's head off... applause!
Hold the phone. The WB wants David Yates to remake The Stand. I love The Stand. The book. The miniseries. I don't think I am on board with this.
Saw Draco in a preview for Planet of the Apes. Well, thought I did. Just got it confirmed. I watched my first Potter kid in a non-Potter movie the other day. It was definitely weird. They're so iconic now, that it will be a while before you see one of them and don't think of them by their HP character name. Actually it was doubly weird because in the movie I watched (Driving Lessons. The title's a link. Good movie. Weird, funny and cute. I'm way too old for what just popped into my head right now. A review likened it to The Full Monty, which I also love. I used to hate them, but in the last 10 years or so, I've come around on Quirky British Comedies ) Rupert played Ben, a young man who got a job helping out around the house of Dame Edie, an aging actress played by Julie Walters. It was like an AU fanfic where Ron and Molly were transplanted to a totally muggle universe where Ron was a shy poetry-writing kid with a creepy ultra-religious adulteress mother and cuckolded pastor father and Molly was a crazy, hilarious, histronic ex-actress who just wants to have a good time. Molly would never ply underage Ron with wine and tell him to "F#ck off... F#$%in' goody two-shoes!" But after seeing this I can say with 100% certainty that, if she did it would be hilarious. Excellent film, but a bit weird watching "Ron" say/do all of these things (driving, cursing, drinking, dancing... what are you doing in that bed, Weasley!? You're just a kid!) he'd not be allowed in the HP world. Also, real-life Julie Walters looks nothing like Molly Weasley. Next up, I'm gonna try watching Dan in December Boys.
Back on Topic. Movie Hilarity: McGonagall telling Flitwick that she might as well use Voldemort's name, because he was going to kill him anyway. I didn't realize how much I'd missed her until she came back.
Ciarán Hinds was completely unrecognizable as Aberforth. So much so that I even tried to cover part of the screen to see if I could recognize his eyes, but no. Someone get that makeup department an award, because after two seasons of Rome, I know Caesar's face pretty well, and there was not a trace of him there.
The first thing that actually shocked me was when everyone was lined up in the Great Hall (I think) and Snape was calling people out and saying that anyone who was harboring or helping Harry was in for trouble. When that lone figure stepped out, I was like, "Who?! Who would do that?" (Crowd gasp) When it was Harry and he called Snape out and the Order/DA showed up behind him, I was like, "YES!" If not in public I would have fist pumped for Harry Potter. I really liked him this movie. (There's a first time for everything.) It was like all of the hardship forced him to finally grow up. And with his normal main support system destroying horcruxes and snogging in the Chamber, he didn't have time for the whining and "oh woe is me" that has kept me from fully embracing him for so long. Way to go, Potter!
Oh,and the cinematography and the effects? Stellar, as always. I need books on the making of these films so bad it's not even funny. Big fancy books full of pictures. Harry Potter Film Wizardry is already out and Harry Potter Stage To Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey is coming in October. Guess what two things I just added to my To Buy list.
I think that is it. I just kind of rambled my way through things as they popped in my head, so I'm sure I missed something. I've still got one last meme post to tackle, I'll wrangle my thoughts into some form of coherency for that one. Overall, two thumbs up. When the screen faded to black, everyone clapped. Then they left. I stayed in the theater until the last credit rolled. I usually at least stick around to see the cast, this time I stayed til the screen went white. Like I told my group when the credits began, "I'm not leaving until the last name rolls." An older couple did the same, only they left a bit before us.
Oh wait, the epilogue. I had reservations because I'd seen pictures from the original shoot. Plus I was not really a fan of it when I originally read the book, but I must say it turned out better than expected. I liked how Draco grew up and became a regular guy. Just a regular suit and tie, wife and kids kind of guy. Lucius was my boy, but it's good to see that with all he went through, Draco didn't follow in his footsteps. Chubby Ron also amused me. It was completely in character, the boy likes to eat! Ginny's hair made her look a bit like a 1950's housewife. What was even weirder was that even though Ron and Harry looked older, you could still see the "real" them and knew it was makeup, but Hermione looked exactly the same. When the three of them were standing together in the final shot, it was like Old!Ron, Hermione, Old!Harry. Also, they were supposed to be 36? I have friends who are 36. 36 is not... what those dudes were.
I'm glad the final shot was the Trio. I know everything is "Harry Potter and", but it really was their story. And now I want to read the final book again. I'll probably start tonight. Either that or the last three.
I don't usually see movies twice, but since I won't buy the DVD until there's an eight-movie box, and I don't do internet "I took my camera in and filmed the big screen" bootlegs, I'll probably make an exception for this. We all agreed was a great movie. My sister upgraded it from "eh....I guess that was okay..." to "after watching the movie, now I want to read all of the books," which, at least to me, is considered high praise.
Before I went to bed Wednesday night I came up with an idea. I never really do anything when I go to these movies. I've never been to a midnight showing and, until today, have never been to any of the movies with anyone who cared about it as much as I do. I didn't like to dress up as a child, so I am definite not the dress-up kind of adult. But I still wanted to do something. You know, because it's the last time this will ever happen. So I bought a shirt, got out my acryllic paint and fabric paint medium and painted myself up a shirt. My camera is broken, so you will have to settle for this artistic rendering.
I am thinking that before my friend goes to the IMAX theater, I will do what I originally intended and put Team Weasley on the back. Sadly I could not make the other one I wanted because....well, you should have seen the face Ma made when I was like, "If I made a Team Riddle shirt, would you wear it?" I thought it was a good idea... red slits for eyes and a Slytherin tie. I tell you,nobody appreciates a good bad guy anymore.
Have you seen that macro that's a lil cartoon guy crying at the movie, and he's all "No, not this part!!" and it's the opening WB? I didn't tear up, but as soon as it came up, I was like, "Oh. This is really it. The beginning of the end." That made me a little sad.
Oh, I watched part 1 again last night and it really improved upon the second viewing. Much like the book. As such, I had not really built this one up that much. I'd only seen one commercial, like 20 stills and read two reviews. I wanted to go in free of all that and just watch it. That really worked for me, because while I had to explain a few things to the non-readers I went to see it with, I didn't come out raging like I have before. The only thing I wanted to see that I did not was the whole Dumbledore's backstory thing,but the movie did not feel like it missed anything not having it.
I liked how it felt like a reunion of sorts. Everyone made an appearance and did what you expected them to do. I enjoyed watching big crowd scenes and picking out all of the people who had not been around in ages. I loved that Seamus, Neville and Dean all made an appearances and laughed out loud at McGonagall's little callback to Seamus' skills and blowing things up. I even got excited to see Filch and Mrs. Norris. Not so much Lavender Brown, but you know, they can't all be winners.
The battle was amazing (and long) and the fact that, for once, everyone played a role was great. It's never been just Harry's fight, so for everyone, not just Ron and Hermione, to be involved in the biggest of ways, was cool.
Question: Why was everyone at Hogwarts in uniform except Harry's friends?
I've never really cared about Luna Lovegood (too weird), but I really liked her in this one. I know she does not end up with Neville, but I think she should have. Then again, I also think she'd be better for Harry than Ginny, so maybe I don't really know what I'm talking about in that regard.
The Prince's Tale was great. It crammed a whole lot in, but I thought it was fitting that Snape finally got to tell his story. Sure I rolled my eyes a bit at the "Oh, he loved her his entire life, and would do anything for her!" but that's just what I do. I probably did it when I read the book, but it was just so extra dramatic on the screen that in the back of my mind I was like "Quit making Snape look like a sap! He is a badass!" It's cook though... his simultaneous love for Lilly and hatred of James allows him some depth he didn't have before, without erasing all of his years of intense jerktitude RE: Harry Potter. I was happy everyone finally got to see what his real motivations were,and was sad that it took until the final movie for him to get such a substantial part in things. That has been the scene I have been most looking forward to since the book came out, and I'm pleased with how it turned out.
Voldemort did not do much. That made me sad. He did go out in grand style though. You've got to give him that.
I actually missed The Trio. Once they hit Hogwarts, this film was all about Harry doing his thing, and the other two off as Ron-and-Hermione. After watching them act as three for so long, it was a bit disjointing having Harry do all of this stuff and the other two just kind of float in and out of his orbit every half hour or so. It was as if they were like, "Yes. We are still here! " and then exit stage right. It just wasn't the same.
When Ron and Hermione kissed, my mom was like "Oh!" Just yesterday she said "You know, about Hermione and..." "What?" "I just can't see them together." and when I was like, "Who?" she said "Never mind." She was on screen with Harry, so she may have meant Harry and Hermione, but they were taking about Ron. I said "What movies have you been watching? Wait, you mean Hermione and Harry? I don't understand." But she would not explain. It was very confusing. I took her "Oh!" as a victory for all that is right. The entire theater laughed at "That's my girlfriend!" I feel like one of those True Blood "Needs more Eric!" people, but you know... my boy was missing for a lot of the movie.
Another theater highlight was when Molly Weasley finally gave Bellatrix LeStrange what I have been wanting her to get since about the third time she appeared on my screen. Oh, sweet, sweet justice! How long I have waited for you. I wanted to clap, but was afraid that that would be too much, you know, in front of other people and all. Then the entire theater started clapping! The lady next to me watched the entire first part of the movie under the misguided belief that Bellatrix was dead. When Hermione was in Gringott's she was all, "They know it's not really her because she's dead!" I wanted to be like, "No." but I said nothing. She also let out a loud, "I KNEW he would do something stupid like that!" when Harry snapped the Elder Wand.
Fred's death really came out of nowhere. I remember it being bigger in the book -- you actually knew it had happened. In the film I wasn't sure it had really happened until I saw all of the mourning Weasleys. The first time the twins appeared on screen and it was all, "You okay? Yeah, me too." I was like "Brace yourself. You know it's coming". Sad Weasleys make me sad. I will miss them most of all.
Having Tonks say "something something something my husband" and "Wait til you hear the news" and Harry ask Dead Lupin, "What about your son?" was not enough to merit inclusion. Either you go, "Hey, these two are married and have a now-orphaned son named Teddy!" or just leave it out entirely. Then again, I never really bought into that relationship even in the books,so I really shouldn't care.
You know what else was sad? The Malfoys. Man, Lucius was just a shell of his former self there at the end. You'd have thought he'd be basking in the glory of being You-Know-Who's Right-Hand Man... but no. He's had a hard two-part film. Most awkward moment: when Draco crossed over to the Dark Side and Voldemort pulled him in for the most awwwwwwkward hug ever. I must say I did not even remember what happened in that scene, but for a second I thought Draco was not going to join his family. His heart hasn't been in it for two movies, and I thought he was just over it enough to stand with his schoolmates over the Death Eaters.
One of the things I was always sad about being cut from the books was just how important Neville really is to everything. He could have been The Boy Who Lived, and no one knows that. I mention it every time I leave a movie. That's how seriously I take it. Ever since any mention of his part of things was left out of the explanation of the prophecy, I've been making sure the people around me know about him and how central of a character he really should be. When he picked up the sorting hat and you could hear the metallic noise, I was like, "Oh yeah! Here we go!" When he started walking towards Voldemort I literally sat up in my seat. He didn't do anything though, so I had to sit back. But I was ready. You should have heard the crowd gasp when they thought he was about to join the Death Eaters. When he sliced Nagini's head off... applause!
Hold the phone. The WB wants David Yates to remake The Stand. I love The Stand. The book. The miniseries. I don't think I am on board with this.
Saw Draco in a preview for Planet of the Apes. Well, thought I did. Just got it confirmed. I watched my first Potter kid in a non-Potter movie the other day. It was definitely weird. They're so iconic now, that it will be a while before you see one of them and don't think of them by their HP character name. Actually it was doubly weird because in the movie I watched (Driving Lessons. The title's a link. Good movie. Weird, funny and cute. I'm way too old for what just popped into my head right now. A review likened it to The Full Monty, which I also love. I used to hate them, but in the last 10 years or so, I've come around on Quirky British Comedies ) Rupert played Ben, a young man who got a job helping out around the house of Dame Edie, an aging actress played by Julie Walters. It was like an AU fanfic where Ron and Molly were transplanted to a totally muggle universe where Ron was a shy poetry-writing kid with a creepy ultra-religious adulteress mother and cuckolded pastor father and Molly was a crazy, hilarious, histronic ex-actress who just wants to have a good time. Molly would never ply underage Ron with wine and tell him to "F#ck off... F#$%in' goody two-shoes!" But after seeing this I can say with 100% certainty that, if she did it would be hilarious. Excellent film, but a bit weird watching "Ron" say/do all of these things (driving, cursing, drinking, dancing... what are you doing in that bed, Weasley!? You're just a kid!) he'd not be allowed in the HP world. Also, real-life Julie Walters looks nothing like Molly Weasley. Next up, I'm gonna try watching Dan in December Boys.
Back on Topic. Movie Hilarity: McGonagall telling Flitwick that she might as well use Voldemort's name, because he was going to kill him anyway. I didn't realize how much I'd missed her until she came back.
Ciarán Hinds was completely unrecognizable as Aberforth. So much so that I even tried to cover part of the screen to see if I could recognize his eyes, but no. Someone get that makeup department an award, because after two seasons of Rome, I know Caesar's face pretty well, and there was not a trace of him there.
The first thing that actually shocked me was when everyone was lined up in the Great Hall (I think) and Snape was calling people out and saying that anyone who was harboring or helping Harry was in for trouble. When that lone figure stepped out, I was like, "Who?! Who would do that?" (Crowd gasp) When it was Harry and he called Snape out and the Order/DA showed up behind him, I was like, "YES!" If not in public I would have fist pumped for Harry Potter. I really liked him this movie. (There's a first time for everything.) It was like all of the hardship forced him to finally grow up. And with his normal main support system destroying horcruxes and snogging in the Chamber, he didn't have time for the whining and "oh woe is me" that has kept me from fully embracing him for so long. Way to go, Potter!
Oh,and the cinematography and the effects? Stellar, as always. I need books on the making of these films so bad it's not even funny. Big fancy books full of pictures. Harry Potter Film Wizardry is already out and Harry Potter Stage To Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey is coming in October. Guess what two things I just added to my To Buy list.
I think that is it. I just kind of rambled my way through things as they popped in my head, so I'm sure I missed something. I've still got one last meme post to tackle, I'll wrangle my thoughts into some form of coherency for that one. Overall, two thumbs up. When the screen faded to black, everyone clapped. Then they left. I stayed in the theater until the last credit rolled. I usually at least stick around to see the cast, this time I stayed til the screen went white. Like I told my group when the credits began, "I'm not leaving until the last name rolls." An older couple did the same, only they left a bit before us.
Oh wait, the epilogue. I had reservations because I'd seen pictures from the original shoot. Plus I was not really a fan of it when I originally read the book, but I must say it turned out better than expected. I liked how Draco grew up and became a regular guy. Just a regular suit and tie, wife and kids kind of guy. Lucius was my boy, but it's good to see that with all he went through, Draco didn't follow in his footsteps. Chubby Ron also amused me. It was completely in character, the boy likes to eat! Ginny's hair made her look a bit like a 1950's housewife. What was even weirder was that even though Ron and Harry looked older, you could still see the "real" them and knew it was makeup, but Hermione looked exactly the same. When the three of them were standing together in the final shot, it was like Old!Ron, Hermione, Old!Harry. Also, they were supposed to be 36? I have friends who are 36. 36 is not... what those dudes were.
I'm glad the final shot was the Trio. I know everything is "Harry Potter and", but it really was their story. And now I want to read the final book again. I'll probably start tonight. Either that or the last three.
I don't usually see movies twice, but since I won't buy the DVD until there's an eight-movie box, and I don't do internet "I took my camera in and filmed the big screen" bootlegs, I'll probably make an exception for this. We all agreed was a great movie. My sister upgraded it from "eh....I guess that was okay..." to "after watching the movie, now I want to read all of the books," which, at least to me, is considered high praise.