Everyone else is doing it ... my thoughts on OotP ;-D
I was fortunate enough to see OotP at midnight with stephanie206 and her awesome family and friends. We were at a big IMAX theater packed full of Potter fans (including two of my students ... they thought it was hilarious that I was there, and I was so glad to see them, actually. One of the things I love about my students is that they all seem to understand that I am not just a teacher.).
I was with the most fashionable people in the theater, thanks to stephanie206's awesome shirts. :-D
I had so much fun! But I must admit that it was mostly because of the company and the atmosphere of opening night ...
First, on the positive side, here's what I loved:
- Imelda Staunton as Umbridge
- Gary Oldman as Sirius Black
- Ralph Finnes as Voldemort (I think he's able to be quite interesting, despite the flat nature of the character)
- the portrayal of the ministry, both the building and the population of it
- the Dumbledore's Army scenes
- the Dumbledore disappears scene
- Umbridge taking over Hogwarts
- the little bits of bantering and bickering between Hermione and Ron, strangely enough.
- The Weasleys, all of them. I don't know when I became such a fan of them. But I think the actors captured the nature of the family. Perhaps it's just refreshing because of all the fanfic I read that bashes the family.
What I was more ambivalent about:
- Snape's worst memory - where was Lily? If the scene was abbreviated because the film had to keep moving, why not reduce the Gwrap scene and give more time to this moment, which is supposed to be a major emotional revelation for Harry?
- Sirius's death scene - the "emotion" of that moment felt forced, not particularly authentic for me
- Cho Chang's role - I don't mind that she's the "sneak," but I thought the way Harry snubs her and the subsequent discovery that she was tricked into telling with Veritaserum was cheap. It didn't fit with the overall theme of the film, which was that Harry was emotionally and physically isolated. Suddenly, Cho becomes the isolated one, and I was left feeling sorrier for her than him. No time for that ... keep the story on Harry's development!
- the scene in Dumbledore's office - where was the grief? Where was the anger? Both characters were so emotionless in this scene!
- Missing: Harry's frantic hope that he can still, somehow, communicate with Sirius (through the mirrors, as a ghost, etc.). The mirrors and the ghosts are missing from the film. Again, I understand the need to cut things, but then at least show me, in some fashion, that Harry desperately needs to see Sirius again!
- the Voldemort possession/exorcism scene. Harry says that he feels sorry for Voldemort ... in HBP, yes. In OotP? No, not yet. Also, the script at that point was weak. Harry is babbling about love and friendship. Not necessary! We see the images of his friends, his family, all that he loves ... why do you need to tell us, as well? The director and scriptwriter were treating me like an imbecile who wouldn't have understood the point without the little speech. And this isn't the only time in the film when we're told how to feel.
I suppose my biggest gripe with the film is not the scenes that it leaves out or includes but the fact that it missed what I saw as one of the the most important important themes of the book. In the book, Harry learns that those adults he had idolized - his father, Sirius, Dumbledore - are flawed. They're still worth loving and admiring, but they're not perfect. That's missing from the film almost completely, although the Dumbledore's Army scenes do show that Harry is learning to become a leader in his own right. The film touches on Harry's isolation, but it does so superficially. Harry in the books is, IMO, an unlikely and reluctant hero. In this film, he's just "the hero." I don't know if this is the fault of Dan Radcliffe, the director, or the script.
But hey, I appreciated the book more after coming out of the film. And I had a great time. Sorry for being so negative. I did enjoy myself!
I was with the most fashionable people in the theater, thanks to stephanie206's awesome shirts. :-D
I had so much fun! But I must admit that it was mostly because of the company and the atmosphere of opening night ...
First, on the positive side, here's what I loved:
- Imelda Staunton as Umbridge
- Gary Oldman as Sirius Black
- Ralph Finnes as Voldemort (I think he's able to be quite interesting, despite the flat nature of the character)
- the portrayal of the ministry, both the building and the population of it
- the Dumbledore's Army scenes
- the Dumbledore disappears scene
- Umbridge taking over Hogwarts
- the little bits of bantering and bickering between Hermione and Ron, strangely enough.
- The Weasleys, all of them. I don't know when I became such a fan of them. But I think the actors captured the nature of the family. Perhaps it's just refreshing because of all the fanfic I read that bashes the family.
What I was more ambivalent about:
- Snape's worst memory - where was Lily? If the scene was abbreviated because the film had to keep moving, why not reduce the Gwrap scene and give more time to this moment, which is supposed to be a major emotional revelation for Harry?
- Sirius's death scene - the "emotion" of that moment felt forced, not particularly authentic for me
- Cho Chang's role - I don't mind that she's the "sneak," but I thought the way Harry snubs her and the subsequent discovery that she was tricked into telling with Veritaserum was cheap. It didn't fit with the overall theme of the film, which was that Harry was emotionally and physically isolated. Suddenly, Cho becomes the isolated one, and I was left feeling sorrier for her than him. No time for that ... keep the story on Harry's development!
- the scene in Dumbledore's office - where was the grief? Where was the anger? Both characters were so emotionless in this scene!
- Missing: Harry's frantic hope that he can still, somehow, communicate with Sirius (through the mirrors, as a ghost, etc.). The mirrors and the ghosts are missing from the film. Again, I understand the need to cut things, but then at least show me, in some fashion, that Harry desperately needs to see Sirius again!
- the Voldemort possession/exorcism scene. Harry says that he feels sorry for Voldemort ... in HBP, yes. In OotP? No, not yet. Also, the script at that point was weak. Harry is babbling about love and friendship. Not necessary! We see the images of his friends, his family, all that he loves ... why do you need to tell us, as well? The director and scriptwriter were treating me like an imbecile who wouldn't have understood the point without the little speech. And this isn't the only time in the film when we're told how to feel.
I suppose my biggest gripe with the film is not the scenes that it leaves out or includes but the fact that it missed what I saw as one of the the most important important themes of the book. In the book, Harry learns that those adults he had idolized - his father, Sirius, Dumbledore - are flawed. They're still worth loving and admiring, but they're not perfect. That's missing from the film almost completely, although the Dumbledore's Army scenes do show that Harry is learning to become a leader in his own right. The film touches on Harry's isolation, but it does so superficially. Harry in the books is, IMO, an unlikely and reluctant hero. In this film, he's just "the hero." I don't know if this is the fault of Dan Radcliffe, the director, or the script.
But hey, I appreciated the book more after coming out of the film. And I had a great time. Sorry for being so negative. I did enjoy myself!