The obligatory Potter post!
Overall, I REALLY loved Deathly Hallows. I came out of it more pleased than I was with OOTP or HBP.
SPOILERS galore, obviously.
My general sense was that this was a really solid adaptation of the first half of the book, but because the *previous* movies didn't do as good of a job keeping in key clues, if you only came in seeing the movies, you were lost. Like, there's no explanation for why Harry has a shard of mirror, because I don't think we saw him GET that mirror in a previous movie! And Bill's introduction and attack by Greyback is shoehorned in to two seconds, because they didn't bother to have Bill in the battle at the end of HBP. Ditto for his relationship with Fleur, Lupin and Tonks' drama, etc. And because DH has so much of its OWN story to tell, it can't waste time fixing what the previous films did wrong.
Things I liked:
-Getting to see Hermione obliviate her parents. I started crying the *second* she looked at her parents on the couch. While, yes, it took away from Harry and Dudley having *their* moment, with Dudley's redemption, I just think it really showed the *loss* and what these kids are sacrificing to fight this battle. It was so haunting to watch her fade from the photographs.
-The 7 Harrys bit (good lord, Dan is PASTY), and how they adjusted Hedwig's death so she died trying to protect Harry. AW.
-Hole-y George and his whole pervy bit in the kitchen as Ginny and Harry made out. I.Cracked.Up.
-Hermione's magic beaded purse! Wheee!
-The way they animated the tale of the Deathly Hallows.
-The adults who played Harry/Ron/Hermione in the Ministry were so spot on. Their physicality was perfect, and Not!Ron had one of THE best lines in the film, when he panicked about his wife being in the basement level all alone.
-Ron in general. Rupert Grint was looking a little rough, but Ron was *awesome* and just like Book!Ron, and I really, really felt how deeply he cares for Hermione and how easy it was for the locket to exploit his insecurities. LOVED him stabbing the locket. The entire audience cheered when he did that. (I can only hope Neville killing Nagini will elicit a similar response in part two!)
-That Nagini scared the EVERLOVING SHIT out of me. I think the CGI on her was fantastic, because she looked incredibly real, and even though I had prepped myself for the inevitable, *every* time she leapt at the camera head-on, I jumped out of my seat. The Godric's Hollow bit was really unsettling. When Bathilda showed up on the road, a guy down front was all, "Oh, hellllll," which was hilarious. I don't know if he'd read the books or if he just thought Batty was freaky on her own.
-What Alan Rickman and Tom Felton both did with their small amounts of air time. If you know what Snape's real deal is, you can *see* that subtlety playing in Rickman's (admittedly very Botoxed) expression. And I really felt Draco's terror and confusion at being thrust into a situation WAY over his head.
Things I didn't like:
-That Dobby showed up in Grimmauld Place and stole Kreacher's little redemption arc out from under him. That was Kreacher's moment to shine -- I particularly missed him offering to hit Mundungus again -- and I didn't think Dobby was needed there at ALL. Similarly, Bellatrix LeStrange, who killed her own cousin before he could get one sentence out, is going to let a "lowly" house elf pontificate at her for two minutes before she tosses her knife at him? Bitch, please. Dobby's death is tragic on its own merit, and *shocking* because we only really see him at the Malfoys. We didn't need all this "feel connected to Dobby" air time, especially since characters like Bill, Fleur, Lupin, and Tonks don't get any significant face time in the film.
-That Dan Radcliffe hasn't figured out, seven movies in, that he needs to QUIT LOOKING AT EMMA THAT WAY. There were a few moments where I was like, "Dude, Harry, I know it's been months since you've seen Ginny and you're hard up, but you are not supposed to be hitting that." I didn't mind the sweet H/Hr moments so much, and I thought the dance to cheer her up was adorkable, but there's no denying that the script, direction and Dan all together gave Harmonians a LOT of fodder. It certainly didn't help that the Horcrux Harry and Hermione kissed for a VERY long time. As my friend pointed out, if Voldemort 'ships Harmony, you KNOW it's wrong. LOL. However, Emma totally *rocked* the Horcrux Hermione look, with that smooth hair and the bitchface. Dayum!
Things I wished they'd kept in:
-Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait! Dude, HOW is that not in Hermione's magic beaded purse? It's actually an important plot tool, too, as it's how the kids know what's going on at Hogwarts and how Snape knows to put the sword in the lake!
-Harry taking Mad Eye's eye off Umbridge's door. It didn't even seem like he *noticed* it was Moody's eye.
-The Kreacher redemption stuff, obviously. Especially as it related to Regulas and the locket.
-Harry bitching out Lupin at Grimmauld Place. They could've easily shaved off some Dobby time and camping time to have that happen, so that, later, when Tonks and Lupin die, we *feel* how what a loss that is.
-More about Dumbledore's past with Grindewald, Aberforth, and Ariana. Has nothing to do with the kids' arc per se, but would've helped explain who the blond guy in all the photos is.
-Ron screaming Hermione's name when she's been tortured by Bellatrix. I felt like that was SO much more effective than the reader seeing what was happening to her. It breaks my heart when he's basically slamming himself against the door to get to her. In the film, he's sort of standing around like, "Okay, what do we do now?" and it was the ONE point where they dropped the Ron/Hermione ball liek whoa. Also, did anyone really need to see Bellatrix BITING "Mudblood" into Hermione's arm? EW.
I think that's all I've got. For now. Might edit and add as things occur to me.
SPOILERS galore, obviously.
My general sense was that this was a really solid adaptation of the first half of the book, but because the *previous* movies didn't do as good of a job keeping in key clues, if you only came in seeing the movies, you were lost. Like, there's no explanation for why Harry has a shard of mirror, because I don't think we saw him GET that mirror in a previous movie! And Bill's introduction and attack by Greyback is shoehorned in to two seconds, because they didn't bother to have Bill in the battle at the end of HBP. Ditto for his relationship with Fleur, Lupin and Tonks' drama, etc. And because DH has so much of its OWN story to tell, it can't waste time fixing what the previous films did wrong.
Things I liked:
-Getting to see Hermione obliviate her parents. I started crying the *second* she looked at her parents on the couch. While, yes, it took away from Harry and Dudley having *their* moment, with Dudley's redemption, I just think it really showed the *loss* and what these kids are sacrificing to fight this battle. It was so haunting to watch her fade from the photographs.
-The 7 Harrys bit (good lord, Dan is PASTY), and how they adjusted Hedwig's death so she died trying to protect Harry. AW.
-Hole-y George and his whole pervy bit in the kitchen as Ginny and Harry made out. I.Cracked.Up.
-Hermione's magic beaded purse! Wheee!
-The way they animated the tale of the Deathly Hallows.
-The adults who played Harry/Ron/Hermione in the Ministry were so spot on. Their physicality was perfect, and Not!Ron had one of THE best lines in the film, when he panicked about his wife being in the basement level all alone.
-Ron in general. Rupert Grint was looking a little rough, but Ron was *awesome* and just like Book!Ron, and I really, really felt how deeply he cares for Hermione and how easy it was for the locket to exploit his insecurities. LOVED him stabbing the locket. The entire audience cheered when he did that. (I can only hope Neville killing Nagini will elicit a similar response in part two!)
-That Nagini scared the EVERLOVING SHIT out of me. I think the CGI on her was fantastic, because she looked incredibly real, and even though I had prepped myself for the inevitable, *every* time she leapt at the camera head-on, I jumped out of my seat. The Godric's Hollow bit was really unsettling. When Bathilda showed up on the road, a guy down front was all, "Oh, hellllll," which was hilarious. I don't know if he'd read the books or if he just thought Batty was freaky on her own.
-What Alan Rickman and Tom Felton both did with their small amounts of air time. If you know what Snape's real deal is, you can *see* that subtlety playing in Rickman's (admittedly very Botoxed) expression. And I really felt Draco's terror and confusion at being thrust into a situation WAY over his head.
Things I didn't like:
-That Dobby showed up in Grimmauld Place and stole Kreacher's little redemption arc out from under him. That was Kreacher's moment to shine -- I particularly missed him offering to hit Mundungus again -- and I didn't think Dobby was needed there at ALL. Similarly, Bellatrix LeStrange, who killed her own cousin before he could get one sentence out, is going to let a "lowly" house elf pontificate at her for two minutes before she tosses her knife at him? Bitch, please. Dobby's death is tragic on its own merit, and *shocking* because we only really see him at the Malfoys. We didn't need all this "feel connected to Dobby" air time, especially since characters like Bill, Fleur, Lupin, and Tonks don't get any significant face time in the film.
-That Dan Radcliffe hasn't figured out, seven movies in, that he needs to QUIT LOOKING AT EMMA THAT WAY. There were a few moments where I was like, "Dude, Harry, I know it's been months since you've seen Ginny and you're hard up, but you are not supposed to be hitting that." I didn't mind the sweet H/Hr moments so much, and I thought the dance to cheer her up was adorkable, but there's no denying that the script, direction and Dan all together gave Harmonians a LOT of fodder. It certainly didn't help that the Horcrux Harry and Hermione kissed for a VERY long time. As my friend pointed out, if Voldemort 'ships Harmony, you KNOW it's wrong. LOL. However, Emma totally *rocked* the Horcrux Hermione look, with that smooth hair and the bitchface. Dayum!
Things I wished they'd kept in:
-Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait! Dude, HOW is that not in Hermione's magic beaded purse? It's actually an important plot tool, too, as it's how the kids know what's going on at Hogwarts and how Snape knows to put the sword in the lake!
-Harry taking Mad Eye's eye off Umbridge's door. It didn't even seem like he *noticed* it was Moody's eye.
-The Kreacher redemption stuff, obviously. Especially as it related to Regulas and the locket.
-Harry bitching out Lupin at Grimmauld Place. They could've easily shaved off some Dobby time and camping time to have that happen, so that, later, when Tonks and Lupin die, we *feel* how what a loss that is.
-More about Dumbledore's past with Grindewald, Aberforth, and Ariana. Has nothing to do with the kids' arc per se, but would've helped explain who the blond guy in all the photos is.
-Ron screaming Hermione's name when she's been tortured by Bellatrix. I felt like that was SO much more effective than the reader seeing what was happening to her. It breaks my heart when he's basically slamming himself against the door to get to her. In the film, he's sort of standing around like, "Okay, what do we do now?" and it was the ONE point where they dropped the Ron/Hermione ball liek whoa. Also, did anyone really need to see Bellatrix BITING "Mudblood" into Hermione's arm? EW.
I think that's all I've got. For now. Might edit and add as things occur to me.