Thoughts on GoF [!!]
Okay. So. GoF! *bounces around* I hit the midnight showing as planned. The movie is still fresh in my mind and I haven't been by any review sites or read any reviews on the FList yet. So now's a good time as any to scratch out a quick personal opinion while untainted. Heh. [Spoilery alert.]
Overall in summary and stand-alone as a movie, I liked and enjoyed it. Obviously, the budget is as robust as ever, so the effects were good. I would have to say that nothing felt obviously fake. I don't think there was an instance where I smirked in the back of my mind, which is a first. The music was yay, but I've liked all the soundtracks to the HP movies so far. The acting wasn't too bad. I know it's unfair to compare the kids to the veterans, but sometimes, the constrast is a bit strong. *prepares to get shot at* I was entertained though. Dragons! The comedy bits were good. Harry gagging under the cloak during the Hagrid/Olympe interaction. Bwahaha. And OMG, three words: Ferret down pants. XD And bwahaha at the study scene. Snape prepping himself for a final back of the head smack-shove. Loooooved. *kidnaps Alan Rickman* I am getting a bit tired of the director jumping and the subsequent stylistic changes that come with that. Though I get that keeping the same director on contract for a trilogy can be difficult, much less a...septilogy. I did feel it was a bit rushed though, but I get into all that next.
However, when I'm done separating the two medias and take off my "movies and books are two different forms of art and you can't always have them be comparable" hat... We run into a few issues. As mentioned, the movie did feel a bit rushed. Some of the scene/scenerios/timeline jumps were a bit disorienting. I know there's only so much you can fit into X amount of hours, but that's just how I felt.
One of the biggest things that bothered me about GoF is that I felt absolutely no attachment, emotional or otherwise, to _any_ of the new characters. New characters introduced that have no prior background or verbal introduction in any of the previous movies, coupled with the slim timeline allowing very little character development... It just had Cedric, Krum and Fluer feeling...rather one dimensional and interchangable. Fluer worried over her sister - Mella feeling "meh". Cedric Avada Kedavra'ed - Mella feeling "eh". Krum - you get none of that whole Krum "just wanting everyone leave him be and to cut it with the pressure" thing at all.
A lot of book elements were missing. No sight or sign of veelas at all, Winky apparently doesn't exist either. :/ No sphinx in the maze! You miss out on the Hermione vs. Skeeter side battle... It's been awhile since I've read GoF, but those jumped out right away.
What was _with_ all the Harry/Hermione allusions? Not that I really have any adamant feelings about the ship. But it just seems off when I just reflexively figure Ron and Hermione together based on their book chemistry. Speaking of Hermione, I didn't really like the way the Hermy/Krum relationship was played out. It was more...akward-cute-clumsy in the book. In the movie it just seemed...superficial.
There was so little Snape! *clings to Rickman* Heh. But I'm being superficial there. And since we're being superficial... I didn't really think Cedric was all that hot. In fact, I thought _Krum_ was way hot. >.>;;
Oooooh. I almost forgot, but I love, love, LOVED the twins. O.O
But, you can't have everything. Heh. So, despite my internal rantage, I still enjoyed the movie. Though, with some of the interpretations and missing elements, I am interested to see how this will affect the future movies. I could say more and I'm still dead tired since I didn't get home till like almost 4am...and I had to be up by 6am at the latest. *dead* But, I'll just stop now. Heh. I know I'll be bantering about HP for the rest of the week at least and get it all out of my system. :)
*prepares for yet more shooting*
Back to the life of Mella. Money has been transferred. I'm broker than usual. [Haha.] Luckily my next paycheck will drop on black Friday in time for me to wrap up my Holiday shopping. Well, that's the plan. I'm still stumped in regards to a few people. I need to get another box of cards as well.
No girly weekend this weekend, that has been replace with yet more apartment hunting when I realized that it's almost friggin' December. >.< I want a solid top three list before the new year starts and a lease signed before February.
Lots to do. Always. Lots to do.
[Side squee: OMG. The preview for "Happy Feet". O_______O Dancing penguins! I about died. DIED. Also. Mmmm... New M. Night movie... *twitches*]
Overall in summary and stand-alone as a movie, I liked and enjoyed it. Obviously, the budget is as robust as ever, so the effects were good. I would have to say that nothing felt obviously fake. I don't think there was an instance where I smirked in the back of my mind, which is a first. The music was yay, but I've liked all the soundtracks to the HP movies so far. The acting wasn't too bad. I know it's unfair to compare the kids to the veterans, but sometimes, the constrast is a bit strong. *prepares to get shot at* I was entertained though. Dragons! The comedy bits were good. Harry gagging under the cloak during the Hagrid/Olympe interaction. Bwahaha. And OMG, three words: Ferret down pants. XD And bwahaha at the study scene. Snape prepping himself for a final back of the head smack-shove. Loooooved. *kidnaps Alan Rickman* I am getting a bit tired of the director jumping and the subsequent stylistic changes that come with that. Though I get that keeping the same director on contract for a trilogy can be difficult, much less a...septilogy. I did feel it was a bit rushed though, but I get into all that next.
However, when I'm done separating the two medias and take off my "movies and books are two different forms of art and you can't always have them be comparable" hat... We run into a few issues. As mentioned, the movie did feel a bit rushed. Some of the scene/scenerios/timeline jumps were a bit disorienting. I know there's only so much you can fit into X amount of hours, but that's just how I felt.
One of the biggest things that bothered me about GoF is that I felt absolutely no attachment, emotional or otherwise, to _any_ of the new characters. New characters introduced that have no prior background or verbal introduction in any of the previous movies, coupled with the slim timeline allowing very little character development... It just had Cedric, Krum and Fluer feeling...rather one dimensional and interchangable. Fluer worried over her sister - Mella feeling "meh". Cedric Avada Kedavra'ed - Mella feeling "eh". Krum - you get none of that whole Krum "just wanting everyone leave him be and to cut it with the pressure" thing at all.
A lot of book elements were missing. No sight or sign of veelas at all, Winky apparently doesn't exist either. :/ No sphinx in the maze! You miss out on the Hermione vs. Skeeter side battle... It's been awhile since I've read GoF, but those jumped out right away.
What was _with_ all the Harry/Hermione allusions? Not that I really have any adamant feelings about the ship. But it just seems off when I just reflexively figure Ron and Hermione together based on their book chemistry. Speaking of Hermione, I didn't really like the way the Hermy/Krum relationship was played out. It was more...akward-cute-clumsy in the book. In the movie it just seemed...superficial.
There was so little Snape! *clings to Rickman* Heh. But I'm being superficial there. And since we're being superficial... I didn't really think Cedric was all that hot. In fact, I thought _Krum_ was way hot. >.>;;
Oooooh. I almost forgot, but I love, love, LOVED the twins. O.O
But, you can't have everything. Heh. So, despite my internal rantage, I still enjoyed the movie. Though, with some of the interpretations and missing elements, I am interested to see how this will affect the future movies. I could say more and I'm still dead tired since I didn't get home till like almost 4am...and I had to be up by 6am at the latest. *dead* But, I'll just stop now. Heh. I know I'll be bantering about HP for the rest of the week at least and get it all out of my system. :)
*prepares for yet more shooting*
Back to the life of Mella. Money has been transferred. I'm broker than usual. [Haha.] Luckily my next paycheck will drop on black Friday in time for me to wrap up my Holiday shopping. Well, that's the plan. I'm still stumped in regards to a few people. I need to get another box of cards as well.
No girly weekend this weekend, that has been replace with yet more apartment hunting when I realized that it's almost friggin' December. >.< I want a solid top three list before the new year starts and a lease signed before February.
Lots to do. Always. Lots to do.
[Side squee: OMG. The preview for "Happy Feet". O_______O Dancing penguins! I about died. DIED. Also. Mmmm... New M. Night movie... *twitches*]