Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 and Writerly Stuff
I saw Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 on friday night on a whim. Didn't prepurchase the tickets, just decided to take the afternoon off and go see it.
But I decided not to post a response/review until after I had re-read Book 7, which I did this weekend and finished it this evening.
What follows are my ruminations on the book and the movie :) followed by some writerly RL stuff. Oh, and Spoilers for all HP books and movies
Over the years I have had a love/hate relationship with the HP movies. The books I unequivocably love and happily re-read often (altho in truth not in the last few years). But picking them up again, in whatever order, is like returning to old friends and relishing in that friendship. The movies though....
Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets movies were kinda dismal in my opinion. Too twee, too weak, too blah. Yeah, I know the trio were young, inexperienced and still learning the craft, but I did not enjoy those first two anywhere near as much as I enjoyed the first two books.
Azakban though... now that movie I thoroughly enjoyed. I think Alonso did a fantastic job and really nailed the feeling of what I think was the best 'written' book. The PoA had pace, mystery, twists and wonderful humour. And the movie matched it. Not 100%, but I thought Alonso should have continued with the franchise.
The Goblet of Fire movie was ... a disappointment. First off, the fact that the majority of the actors had suddenly sported the ultra shaggy look just ticked me off no end. And GoF is my favourite book. Its the one I've re-read the most and the one that really captured my imagination. I knew the movie would never be able to capture the complicated plot and twists and turns entirely, and I don't need movies to match the book page to screen. The Philosopher's Stone is proof enough of that. But between the acting (poor) and haphazard efforts to cram as much as possible into the movie, it was a miss for me.
Strangely enough, the Order of the Phoenix movie surprised me. OotP is a gritty, angry book and one I enjoy but read reluctantly as I tend to get quite emotionally involved. And the movie handled a lot of the emotion and Harry-anger with a gentle touch. There is a lot of ALL CAPS in the book and the movie doesn't quite let all that vitriolic steam out for which I was grateful. As the longest book, OotP needed serious editing for a script and I felt it worked.
Half Blood Prince is my go to, stress free Harry read, (until the end). I love HPB for the quietness and peace and slow pace of the majority of the book. And the movie as a result is also kinda quiet. I barely remember the HPB movie and perhaps that is evidence enough of its lack of impact with me.
And after that very long introduction, Deathly Hallows Pt 1 and 2 thoughts.
The book is not my favourite for the sole reason because it doesn't take place at Hogwarts. The Harry stories drew me in because they were school stories and I have always enjoyed stories set at boarding schools. So the fact that DH is a grand tour of the lonely spots in Britain and wizarding hot spots, it kinda lost some of the magic for me. That's not to say that I was bored, or disappointed with the book. Hardly, its a real page turner and whenever I re-read it, I end up reading until the wee hours of the morning. Because its the finale and there's a lot to digest, I did enjoy it. But with all the tragedy and reveals and drama, it won't ever be a favourite.
So where does that leave the movies? Part 1 in my mind was pointless. Yes, the finale might deserve a movie long enough to capture that grandeur of a battle and lonely planet tour, but I can't help but be cynical and think it was more about milking the Potter cash cow than actual artistic integrity. While re-reading, when I reached the spot where the first movie ends, its not half way through, its three quarters way through the story! That's not a lot of story to either cram or drag out.
As a result, DH part 2 felt a little drawn out. With the book fresh in my mind, I'm impressed with some of book to script edits, like the more dramatic capture of the trio by the Snatchers, the quicker jump to Gringotts and the addition of seeing Griphook killed and the sword vanishing. Its scenes like that, that I feel add to the HP plot as it doesn't detract/distract, but adds depath. And actually seeing Ron and Hermoine's trip to the Chamber of Secrets was pretty awesome.
Daniel Radcliffe did a commendable job on Harry's journey into the Forbidden Forest, and the snitch/resurrection stone scenes. In fact the movie version the final battle was fairly good. I qualify with fairly because while the book was very talky at the end and the movie needed to be more visual, and I get that... but, they (and by they I mean David Yates and Script People) made some weird choices.
Why leave out the best line/scene between Ron and Hermoine with the save the elves speech = smooch. Why not actually show Fred's death scene? Why leave out Percy's reconciliation with his family? And Oliver Wood and co returning to fight? And the centaurs and house elves joining in the battle? Also, why keep the school full of screaming children? And not mention Teddy Tonks at all! Keeping Harry's and Voldemort's battle out of the Hall and away from specators was visually better, but I felt everyone needed to see the Dark Lord's defeat. And I can't recall, but does Harry actually say 'Expelliarmus' in the movie?
Like I said, weird choices.
On the whole, DH Pt. 2 was a fitting finale for a series of movies i haven't really enjoyed. It gave visualisation to some lovely scenes and we got to see the trio of baby actors morph into potential stars. but I still think they could have done it in one movie.
Soon after finishing DH the book first time round, I wrote my emotional catharis fic (and the only HP fic I will ever write) and was able to tie up the emotional investment I had felt in the series
However!! and this is the miracle of fandom/fanvids. Sometimes, no matter how dreadful/mediocre/incredible a show is (or movie) the right editing, song and love of the base material can make a fanvid truly encapsulate your love for a series of books/tv series: And dazzme7's fanvid does just that.
Song: One Republic - Marchin' On.
Material: All Seven movies.
And me - feeling kinda nostalgic. (oh, oh, but the SPN vid to this song is ten times better, 100 times!) Its an awesome song :))
Anyhoo...
Writerly and RL stuff.
I wrote my resignation letter last week. It was quite cathartic. At the same time I updated my CV and sent it out. I haven't actually done anything with the letter and won't until I have something viable but it felt good putting it all down on paper.
I have plot bunnies coming out of my ears. I finished my Sheppard_hc exchange fic the other day \o/ and it was liberating to finish something I set out to do. And I am planning a blitz of fic. I need to get two or three more smaller, shorter fics out before tackling the epic SGA AU, or Supply and Demand or Here Tomorrow again. So, first week of August, you are my goal! I am taking leave next week, both to veg and begin to shake the winter fat and hopefully to write. I need to walk away from work for a while and just be creative.
But I decided not to post a response/review until after I had re-read Book 7, which I did this weekend and finished it this evening.
What follows are my ruminations on the book and the movie :) followed by some writerly RL stuff. Oh, and Spoilers for all HP books and movies
Over the years I have had a love/hate relationship with the HP movies. The books I unequivocably love and happily re-read often (altho in truth not in the last few years). But picking them up again, in whatever order, is like returning to old friends and relishing in that friendship. The movies though....
Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets movies were kinda dismal in my opinion. Too twee, too weak, too blah. Yeah, I know the trio were young, inexperienced and still learning the craft, but I did not enjoy those first two anywhere near as much as I enjoyed the first two books.
Azakban though... now that movie I thoroughly enjoyed. I think Alonso did a fantastic job and really nailed the feeling of what I think was the best 'written' book. The PoA had pace, mystery, twists and wonderful humour. And the movie matched it. Not 100%, but I thought Alonso should have continued with the franchise.
The Goblet of Fire movie was ... a disappointment. First off, the fact that the majority of the actors had suddenly sported the ultra shaggy look just ticked me off no end. And GoF is my favourite book. Its the one I've re-read the most and the one that really captured my imagination. I knew the movie would never be able to capture the complicated plot and twists and turns entirely, and I don't need movies to match the book page to screen. The Philosopher's Stone is proof enough of that. But between the acting (poor) and haphazard efforts to cram as much as possible into the movie, it was a miss for me.
Strangely enough, the Order of the Phoenix movie surprised me. OotP is a gritty, angry book and one I enjoy but read reluctantly as I tend to get quite emotionally involved. And the movie handled a lot of the emotion and Harry-anger with a gentle touch. There is a lot of ALL CAPS in the book and the movie doesn't quite let all that vitriolic steam out for which I was grateful. As the longest book, OotP needed serious editing for a script and I felt it worked.
Half Blood Prince is my go to, stress free Harry read, (until the end). I love HPB for the quietness and peace and slow pace of the majority of the book. And the movie as a result is also kinda quiet. I barely remember the HPB movie and perhaps that is evidence enough of its lack of impact with me.
And after that very long introduction, Deathly Hallows Pt 1 and 2 thoughts.
The book is not my favourite for the sole reason because it doesn't take place at Hogwarts. The Harry stories drew me in because they were school stories and I have always enjoyed stories set at boarding schools. So the fact that DH is a grand tour of the lonely spots in Britain and wizarding hot spots, it kinda lost some of the magic for me. That's not to say that I was bored, or disappointed with the book. Hardly, its a real page turner and whenever I re-read it, I end up reading until the wee hours of the morning. Because its the finale and there's a lot to digest, I did enjoy it. But with all the tragedy and reveals and drama, it won't ever be a favourite.
So where does that leave the movies? Part 1 in my mind was pointless. Yes, the finale might deserve a movie long enough to capture that grandeur of a battle and lonely planet tour, but I can't help but be cynical and think it was more about milking the Potter cash cow than actual artistic integrity. While re-reading, when I reached the spot where the first movie ends, its not half way through, its three quarters way through the story! That's not a lot of story to either cram or drag out.
As a result, DH part 2 felt a little drawn out. With the book fresh in my mind, I'm impressed with some of book to script edits, like the more dramatic capture of the trio by the Snatchers, the quicker jump to Gringotts and the addition of seeing Griphook killed and the sword vanishing. Its scenes like that, that I feel add to the HP plot as it doesn't detract/distract, but adds depath. And actually seeing Ron and Hermoine's trip to the Chamber of Secrets was pretty awesome.
Daniel Radcliffe did a commendable job on Harry's journey into the Forbidden Forest, and the snitch/resurrection stone scenes. In fact the movie version the final battle was fairly good. I qualify with fairly because while the book was very talky at the end and the movie needed to be more visual, and I get that... but, they (and by they I mean David Yates and Script People) made some weird choices.
Why leave out the best line/scene between Ron and Hermoine with the save the elves speech = smooch. Why not actually show Fred's death scene? Why leave out Percy's reconciliation with his family? And Oliver Wood and co returning to fight? And the centaurs and house elves joining in the battle? Also, why keep the school full of screaming children? And not mention Teddy Tonks at all! Keeping Harry's and Voldemort's battle out of the Hall and away from specators was visually better, but I felt everyone needed to see the Dark Lord's defeat. And I can't recall, but does Harry actually say 'Expelliarmus' in the movie?
Like I said, weird choices.
On the whole, DH Pt. 2 was a fitting finale for a series of movies i haven't really enjoyed. It gave visualisation to some lovely scenes and we got to see the trio of baby actors morph into potential stars. but I still think they could have done it in one movie.
Soon after finishing DH the book first time round, I wrote my emotional catharis fic (and the only HP fic I will ever write) and was able to tie up the emotional investment I had felt in the series
However!! and this is the miracle of fandom/fanvids. Sometimes, no matter how dreadful/mediocre/incredible a show is (or movie) the right editing, song and love of the base material can make a fanvid truly encapsulate your love for a series of books/tv series: And dazzme7's fanvid does just that.
Song: One Republic - Marchin' On.
Material: All Seven movies.
And me - feeling kinda nostalgic. (oh, oh, but the SPN vid to this song is ten times better, 100 times!) Its an awesome song :))
Click to viewAnyhoo...
Writerly and RL stuff.
I wrote my resignation letter last week. It was quite cathartic. At the same time I updated my CV and sent it out. I haven't actually done anything with the letter and won't until I have something viable but it felt good putting it all down on paper.
I have plot bunnies coming out of my ears. I finished my Sheppard_hc exchange fic the other day \o/ and it was liberating to finish something I set out to do. And I am planning a blitz of fic. I need to get two or three more smaller, shorter fics out before tackling the epic SGA AU, or Supply and Demand or Here Tomorrow again. So, first week of August, you are my goal! I am taking leave next week, both to veg and begin to shake the winter fat and hopefully to write. I need to walk away from work for a while and just be creative.