Post-OotP and Fanboy weekend commentary
First off, I must thank pghpatronus from the bottom of my heart for coming up with this idea, but also for the 9 hour return trips he made to come get me so I could join the group. I like to drive, too, but he went far above and beyond the call to enable me to visit with everyone. I really enjoyed our talking time, too. He was kind enough not to comment about my sniffling this morning as we headed back. I was made an Honorary Fanboy! Despite wearing a skirt to the movie and everything. ;)
I'd not commented about my first viewing of OotP because I was going to be seeing people from my flist, but now that we saw it together, I can say that I remain underwhelmed. The soundtrack, however, I definitely loved, and Mr. Patronus, whenever you'd care to send it my way, that's great!!! (or tell me where to go and I'll burn it...) Being a major Ron fangirl, I found myself thinking of this movie as "Ron, Not Appearing In This Film." He is, of course, in it, but not at the level I believe he should have been. My primary beef is with the three major events/maturity/deepending friendship with Harry (and whomever else) in Ron's life that year which were simply yawning holes to me in regards to the movie:
‡ Him not being Prefect. Or anyone, but Ron especially. The first time he's selected instead of Harry, but there was nothing about him being selected as Prefect.
‡ Weasley Is Our King he rules my heart, that's for sure. Good thing, that, since that major turning point for him wasn't there. I'd known for ages it wouldn't be there, but I so missed it.
‡ The brains during the Department of Mysteries fight. I want to be seeing those scars on his arms in the next movie, but that seems nigh impossible.
The soundtrack was excellent. Helena Bonham Carter, much like Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branaugh, I found as absolutely inspired casting. Wish she'd dueled more with Sirius. Loved every scene with Sirius and Harry. After both viewings I wanted to go get engrossed in some long, meaty Sirry fics. Yum.
Overall, however, I just didn't like it as much. I think the ambiance of oppression, and claustrophobia, and bleak resignation was all there, however, and I didn't at all miss capslock!Harry. The twins, though I know this book the best after writing "Countdown," a genfic basically showing the entirety of OotP from George's POV. And I really wanted the swamp.
At any rate, enough of those ramblings. It was such a delight to be with my packmates (gorgeous souls wolfiekins and koshweasley) again, as well as meet brumeux77, a gentle spirit who can get into the fray as much as anyone, and hedwigs_bane, whose vitality and enthusiasm kept me awake until nearly 3 a.m. (on consecutive day three of seeing that rather unholy hour) with gusto and verve. pghpatronus's hospitality was gracious and comfortable, as always- I had much of the weekend with just the two of us, and we discussed all sorts of things from fandom to my home life and then enjoyed watching Dogma. I'd forgotten Alan Rickman was in it, and he's simply teh sex, whether Metatron or Severus.
I even finished up the next section in Strange-Eyed Constellation, not that many people are going to be on LJ to decide to read it. ;) That's okay. I'll be receiving Deathly Hallows on Saturday and I'm sure I'll plow straight through it, and then I'll go back to my fic. I've been writing presumably AU post-War fics for 2 1/2 years, and I'll keep going with my stuff no matter what JKR writes. That being said, I'll post when I've finished it so that if other people wish to discuss it with me on a filter, we can.
Am tired; much love to you all. I'll be around, and probably musing about some real life stuff over the next few days. See you there. :)
I'd not commented about my first viewing of OotP because I was going to be seeing people from my flist, but now that we saw it together, I can say that I remain underwhelmed. The soundtrack, however, I definitely loved, and Mr. Patronus, whenever you'd care to send it my way, that's great!!! (or tell me where to go and I'll burn it...) Being a major Ron fangirl, I found myself thinking of this movie as "Ron, Not Appearing In This Film." He is, of course, in it, but not at the level I believe he should have been. My primary beef is with the three major events/maturity/deepending friendship with Harry (and whomever else) in Ron's life that year which were simply yawning holes to me in regards to the movie:
‡ Him not being Prefect. Or anyone, but Ron especially. The first time he's selected instead of Harry, but there was nothing about him being selected as Prefect.
‡ Weasley Is Our King he rules my heart, that's for sure. Good thing, that, since that major turning point for him wasn't there. I'd known for ages it wouldn't be there, but I so missed it.
‡ The brains during the Department of Mysteries fight. I want to be seeing those scars on his arms in the next movie, but that seems nigh impossible.
The soundtrack was excellent. Helena Bonham Carter, much like Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branaugh, I found as absolutely inspired casting. Wish she'd dueled more with Sirius. Loved every scene with Sirius and Harry. After both viewings I wanted to go get engrossed in some long, meaty Sirry fics. Yum.
Overall, however, I just didn't like it as much. I think the ambiance of oppression, and claustrophobia, and bleak resignation was all there, however, and I didn't at all miss capslock!Harry. The twins, though I know this book the best after writing "Countdown," a genfic basically showing the entirety of OotP from George's POV. And I really wanted the swamp.
At any rate, enough of those ramblings. It was such a delight to be with my packmates (gorgeous souls wolfiekins and koshweasley) again, as well as meet brumeux77, a gentle spirit who can get into the fray as much as anyone, and hedwigs_bane, whose vitality and enthusiasm kept me awake until nearly 3 a.m. (on consecutive day three of seeing that rather unholy hour) with gusto and verve. pghpatronus's hospitality was gracious and comfortable, as always- I had much of the weekend with just the two of us, and we discussed all sorts of things from fandom to my home life and then enjoyed watching Dogma. I'd forgotten Alan Rickman was in it, and he's simply teh sex, whether Metatron or Severus.
I even finished up the next section in Strange-Eyed Constellation, not that many people are going to be on LJ to decide to read it. ;) That's okay. I'll be receiving Deathly Hallows on Saturday and I'm sure I'll plow straight through it, and then I'll go back to my fic. I've been writing presumably AU post-War fics for 2 1/2 years, and I'll keep going with my stuff no matter what JKR writes. That being said, I'll post when I've finished it so that if other people wish to discuss it with me on a filter, we can.
Am tired; much love to you all. I'll be around, and probably musing about some real life stuff over the next few days. See you there. :)