Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - First Viewing
So... I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 this afternoon. I went with a group of friends (including the lovely Amy - inclination_fic ), and we all dressed up and sang songs from A Very Potter Musical/Sequel (I was AVPS Lucius Malfoy XD)
Wow. Just WOW! For about half the film I had my hands over my mouth to stop me laughing (in a good way), squeaking, or just bursting out with meaningless noises in my excitement! I've also decided I'm definitely going to see it again, so this entry is going to be updated with my second-viewing thoughts after that. On second thoughts, looking at the size of this when I'm halfway through, maybe I'll make a new entry...
By the way - MOVIE SPOILERS! =D (And if you've seen the movie but not read the books, beware because there are part two spoilers in there too!)
First of all my list:
- Charity Burbage - I was really happy with the whole Malfoy Manor scene - in fact I thought it was really emotional because of Snape. It's fine to read about a character and know that they're acting, but to see that on screen - when he was looking impassively at Charity: "We were friends" -- I felt like crying and the film hadn't been playing more than ten minutes! Bellatrix and the Malfoys were awesome too!
- Dursleys - I was sad that Dudley was kept as the dumb cousin and Vernon was the one who told him why they were going. I really enjoyed seeing Dudley's change in the books, but I can understand why they did that in the film - it's simpler and easier to understand -- it just makes it a less complex story, which is not good most of the time.
- Remus/Tonks - A casual mention that they got married, not quite got there with the news that she's pregnant - although in the books she isn't pregnant when they collect Harry (or they don't know that she is anyway). Quite disappointed with the lack of angsty Remus wanting to join H/R/H hunting horcruxes, but for a start I don't think movie-Remus is like that (which sucks) and secondly it would add too much unneccesary back story
- Seven Potters chase - Hagrid randomly fell asleep... or that's what it seemed - then he woke up in time to crash into a puddle. It's a shame not to have seen Ted Tonks and Andromeda, but they're also unneccesary back story
- George's ear - YES they included the whole 'saint-like' conversation! Fred even called him 'Georgy' YESYESYES!! <3
- Moody's death - hmm... Bill just mentions it randomly... not sure it was done justice
- Hedwig's death - I was pretty happy with this - it made more sense for them to know it was the real Harry because of Hedwig because it's more obvious - and on film, the more obvious the better! It was really sad though, and almost set me off crying ='(
- Gregorovitch - They seem to just know who he is... *meh*
- Krum - no sight of him... unneccesary back story again...
- Harry's cake - didn't get that line from Hermione, but I loved that Hermione suddenly comes out with 'we were going to give you a cake for your birthday' when they're in the middle of running from Death Eaters!
- Dumbledore's will - pretty well done I think - just wasn't sure about the sword going missing - I suppose the whole 'it's at Hogwarts, but then Ginny and co try to steal it so Snape sends it to Gringotts' plot was too much backstory
- Talking patronuses - I wasn't sure why the patronuses were done more as balls of light rather than animals - even the doe. But then in the previous films the patronuses haven't often been animal shaped wen they were most effective - which is the opposite to canon =/
- Ghostly Dumbledore - It was good, and good that they included it, but it should have said "Severus Snape" like in the book - it would have been more effective
- Ghoul - again, uneccesary back story
- 12 Fail-Safe Ways To Charm Witches - ditto the above, *meh*
- Beedle the Bard - that was a great bit where Ron goes on about Babbity Rabbity, but I wich Scrimgeour had said something, or that Hermione had reminded Ron that she and Harry grew up listening to muggle tales - eg Cinderella, the illness =L
- Aunt Muriel - turns into a random wedding guest who loves Rita and gossip... *meh*
- Lily's letter - if it's not in the first one then it's probably not going to be in Snape's memories (>=( )
- RAB - this seemed a little random - they were in Sirius' bedroom, then they happened to look in Regulus' room... =/
- Muggle-Born registration - this was quite well done
- Kreacher - not sure about this bit, I wanted Kreacher to become nice, but his character wasn't developed as being horrible in the films - he didn't tell Harry Sirius had gone in OotP the movie therefore he become unneccesary plot
- Runcorn, Cattermole, and Malfalda - AMAZING! I loved this part, and while I was watching it I thought it would be my favourite part, but the end was even better - more on that later XD I loved the awkard way particularly Runcorn-Harry was moving, and his strange facial expressions! Awesome!
- Mad-Eye's eye - Yes it was there. That was it. Just unnecessary back story though I suppose =(
- The trial - It was quite a good way they did this, and Runcorn-Harry's facial expressions again! Hehe! One thing I was confused about was the way they did the dementors - they were being held near the ceiling, so the 'accused' couldn't feel their presence either... The whole atmosphere was a lot less horrible than it is in the books - and compared to Malfoy Manor it's as if they didn't want to show people who weren't actual Death Eaters being horrible, even though in the book they are practically Death Eaters anyway...
- Ron gets splinched - There was a lot of blood... I suppose if he had actually been missing a piece of his arm then they would have had to have put the rating up!
- The same tent they used for the World Cup - I'm pretty sure it's not, but this is a minor detail
- Ron becoming nasty - I think this was done quite well - certainly Rupert's acting was good
- Ted, Dirk, Dean, Gornuk, and Griphook in the forest - didn't see them, but this was kind of replaced with Hermione seeing the snatchers and that proved that their charms worked.
- No news of Luna, Ginny, and Neville's attempt to steal the sword - as previously mentioned
- Bathilda Bagshot - I always pronounce it Batilda (in my head anyway...) but quite well done - didn't like that Voldemort didn't feature in that bit - those who hadn't read the books are going to wonder what the hell was going on with the snake... OH! And the random parseltongue - I'm sure people who haven't read the books must be thinking "WTF is going on here?!?!"
- Quotes on the graves - I saw the quote on James and Lily's grave, and I was waiting for one of them to read it out - that would have been nice especially because it ties in with the whole Deathly Hallows theme - you know, the title of the movie!
- Peverell grave - Hermione just happened to wipe the snow off it in exactly the right place to read the name!
- Potter house - *cries* but no magical graffiti =(
- No flashback - but they've done this in previous movies
- Harry's wand gets broken - included *tick*
- Snape's patronus! As previously mentioned, I didn't like th ball of light thing... otherwise, quite good. I looked out for a shadowy figure hiding behind a tree - they should have put that in because Ron does see something!
- Yay for Ron saving Harry from drowning! =D
- Taboo - it appears that they get discovered in the restaurant/cafe thing after saying Voldemort, but there's no mention of it being taboo-ed and I can't remember if they say it before they get caught by the snatchers
- Gurdyroot infusion - well, it's something disgusting, but I think they called it tea... Xenophilius is good though XD
- They didn't do Luna's bedroom! ='(
- Potterwatch - it was quite sad that they didn't do proper Potterwatch, but the radio they were listening to was quite effective. It was interesting how the radio was annoying to Harry in the film, whereas in the book it was Hermione who got annoyed...
- Snatchers - as previously mentioned, I loved the scene where they first appear! I also LOVE the main snatcher guy, who I assume is supposed to be Scabior. He has a kind of Jack Sparrow look about him XD
- Vernon Dudley! Hehe! But it doesn't explain why he uses Dudley as a surname... more confusion for non book readers!
- Harry seeing what Voldy's doing - there's a little bit, but not much... it allows him to know Voldy's after the Elder Wand, and that's about it...
- Draco scared of identifying Harry - I just loved the way Bellatrix had grabbed Harry and was mushing his face next to hers as if she's asking Draco to see a resemblence between them! Hehe! Tom Felton was generally good as always though
- The eye in the mirror - just seemed to happen in Privett Drive and Harry didn't seem to think anything of it, and then he happened to have hidden it in his sock - well, you never know when a broken chunk of mirror might come in handy(!)
- Wormtail strangled by his own hand - I suppose it would have broken the pace at this point
- Harry taking Draco's wand - I think this happened - otherwise the whole Elder wand plot is down the drain!
- Dobby *sob* killed *sob* by Bellatrix *sob* - THIS was SO well done -- the TENSION!! D= (More on Dobby later)
- Dumbledore's tomb - yes, it looks like a Jenga puzzle... what more can I say?
And my other thoughts: (hopefully in chronological order!)
- Hermione's family looked really posh - and didn't they call her down for dinner, then they were sitting in the living room... =/ I loved the way they did the pictures - I wonder if they were real pictures of Emma when she was younger - they looked authentic!
- Voldemort makes a remark about Pius Thicknesse being a typical politician when he's being corrupt - LOL!
- I loved the way Hermione and Scrimgeour were tense when he gives Harry the snitch but it doesn't explain why till later <3
- Luna: "Harry doesn't want to talk to us, he's just too polite to say so" - Okay, so maybe I've been obsessing a bit too much, but this made me think of Sherlock Holmes
- When Kreacher and Dobby both come back with Mundungus - this seems to be stolen from the bit in Half-Blood Prince where Harry orders them to follow Malfoy - but at least they're using other canon material rather than just making up random stuff!
- No muggles in bikinis on Sirius' walls, no Gryffindor banners either =(
- The ministry - those actors playing Cattermole/Ron and Runcorn/Harry were really good! <3
- Because there isn't the bit where Kreacher becomes nice it isn't so much of a loss when they can't go back to Grimmauld Place, but I can understand that that would be hard to translate to screen
- When hearing that Snape is headmaster there isn't as much anger about it - in the book Harry is outraged!
- The Harry/Hermione dancing scene - I was quite happy with this, although it seemed a little out of character. It could have been MEGA cheesy, but it wasn't, so it's all good =)
- Hermione: "I use logic/I don't let other things get in the way of my thoughts/etc" - Me and Amy just turned to each other and said "Sherlock Holmes" at the same time... LOVE! <3
- I LOVED that they put in the bit where Ron makes them vote on going to the Lovegood's! Hehe!
- Running away from the snatchers - why didn't they apparate?? =/
- DOBBY! He was so cute! I'm glad they added more of him, especially because we haven't seen him since Chamber of Secrets! When he was unscrewing the chandelier - SO CUTE!! LOVE! Dobby is a large factor in my decision to see the film again! <3
Wow! This turned out longer than I expected! Thanks for actually taking the time to read it =D
My plan is currently to reread the book before seeing the film again, possibly with my dad, because I'm sure he wants to see it! Or some of my friends who haven't gone to see it already (or who are just as crazy as me and want to see it again!)
So... Part 2! This should take place mainly over one day - breaking in to Gringotts and going to Hogwarts all happen on the same day (or at least without them sleeping in between!) -- it should be action packed, but with lots of juicy canon plot and lots of tying up of loose ends! Basically, I CAN'T WAIT!
Look out for my entry after viewing #2 XD
Wow. Just WOW! For about half the film I had my hands over my mouth to stop me laughing (in a good way), squeaking, or just bursting out with meaningless noises in my excitement! I've also decided I'm definitely going to see it again, so this entry is going to be updated with my second-viewing thoughts after that. On second thoughts, looking at the size of this when I'm halfway through, maybe I'll make a new entry...
By the way - MOVIE SPOILERS! =D (And if you've seen the movie but not read the books, beware because there are part two spoilers in there too!)
First of all my list:
- Charity Burbage - I was really happy with the whole Malfoy Manor scene - in fact I thought it was really emotional because of Snape. It's fine to read about a character and know that they're acting, but to see that on screen - when he was looking impassively at Charity: "We were friends" -- I felt like crying and the film hadn't been playing more than ten minutes! Bellatrix and the Malfoys were awesome too!
- Dursleys - I was sad that Dudley was kept as the dumb cousin and Vernon was the one who told him why they were going. I really enjoyed seeing Dudley's change in the books, but I can understand why they did that in the film - it's simpler and easier to understand -- it just makes it a less complex story, which is not good most of the time.
- Remus/Tonks - A casual mention that they got married, not quite got there with the news that she's pregnant - although in the books she isn't pregnant when they collect Harry (or they don't know that she is anyway). Quite disappointed with the lack of angsty Remus wanting to join H/R/H hunting horcruxes, but for a start I don't think movie-Remus is like that (which sucks) and secondly it would add too much unneccesary back story
- Seven Potters chase - Hagrid randomly fell asleep... or that's what it seemed - then he woke up in time to crash into a puddle. It's a shame not to have seen Ted Tonks and Andromeda, but they're also unneccesary back story
- George's ear - YES they included the whole 'saint-like' conversation! Fred even called him 'Georgy' YESYESYES!! <3
- Moody's death - hmm... Bill just mentions it randomly... not sure it was done justice
- Hedwig's death - I was pretty happy with this - it made more sense for them to know it was the real Harry because of Hedwig because it's more obvious - and on film, the more obvious the better! It was really sad though, and almost set me off crying ='(
- Gregorovitch - They seem to just know who he is... *meh*
- Krum - no sight of him... unneccesary back story again...
- Harry's cake - didn't get that line from Hermione, but I loved that Hermione suddenly comes out with 'we were going to give you a cake for your birthday' when they're in the middle of running from Death Eaters!
- Dumbledore's will - pretty well done I think - just wasn't sure about the sword going missing - I suppose the whole 'it's at Hogwarts, but then Ginny and co try to steal it so Snape sends it to Gringotts' plot was too much backstory
- Talking patronuses - I wasn't sure why the patronuses were done more as balls of light rather than animals - even the doe. But then in the previous films the patronuses haven't often been animal shaped wen they were most effective - which is the opposite to canon =/
- Ghostly Dumbledore - It was good, and good that they included it, but it should have said "Severus Snape" like in the book - it would have been more effective
- Ghoul - again, uneccesary back story
- 12 Fail-Safe Ways To Charm Witches - ditto the above, *meh*
- Beedle the Bard - that was a great bit where Ron goes on about Babbity Rabbity, but I wich Scrimgeour had said something, or that Hermione had reminded Ron that she and Harry grew up listening to muggle tales - eg Cinderella, the illness =L
- Aunt Muriel - turns into a random wedding guest who loves Rita and gossip... *meh*
- Lily's letter - if it's not in the first one then it's probably not going to be in Snape's memories (>=( )
- RAB - this seemed a little random - they were in Sirius' bedroom, then they happened to look in Regulus' room... =/
- Muggle-Born registration - this was quite well done
- Kreacher - not sure about this bit, I wanted Kreacher to become nice, but his character wasn't developed as being horrible in the films - he didn't tell Harry Sirius had gone in OotP the movie therefore he become unneccesary plot
- Runcorn, Cattermole, and Malfalda - AMAZING! I loved this part, and while I was watching it I thought it would be my favourite part, but the end was even better - more on that later XD I loved the awkard way particularly Runcorn-Harry was moving, and his strange facial expressions! Awesome!
- Mad-Eye's eye - Yes it was there. That was it. Just unnecessary back story though I suppose =(
- The trial - It was quite a good way they did this, and Runcorn-Harry's facial expressions again! Hehe! One thing I was confused about was the way they did the dementors - they were being held near the ceiling, so the 'accused' couldn't feel their presence either... The whole atmosphere was a lot less horrible than it is in the books - and compared to Malfoy Manor it's as if they didn't want to show people who weren't actual Death Eaters being horrible, even though in the book they are practically Death Eaters anyway...
- Ron gets splinched - There was a lot of blood... I suppose if he had actually been missing a piece of his arm then they would have had to have put the rating up!
- The same tent they used for the World Cup - I'm pretty sure it's not, but this is a minor detail
- Ron becoming nasty - I think this was done quite well - certainly Rupert's acting was good
- Ted, Dirk, Dean, Gornuk, and Griphook in the forest - didn't see them, but this was kind of replaced with Hermione seeing the snatchers and that proved that their charms worked.
- No news of Luna, Ginny, and Neville's attempt to steal the sword - as previously mentioned
- Bathilda Bagshot - I always pronounce it Batilda (in my head anyway...) but quite well done - didn't like that Voldemort didn't feature in that bit - those who hadn't read the books are going to wonder what the hell was going on with the snake... OH! And the random parseltongue - I'm sure people who haven't read the books must be thinking "WTF is going on here?!?!"
- Quotes on the graves - I saw the quote on James and Lily's grave, and I was waiting for one of them to read it out - that would have been nice especially because it ties in with the whole Deathly Hallows theme - you know, the title of the movie!
- Peverell grave - Hermione just happened to wipe the snow off it in exactly the right place to read the name!
- Potter house - *cries* but no magical graffiti =(
- No flashback - but they've done this in previous movies
- Harry's wand gets broken - included *tick*
- Snape's patronus! As previously mentioned, I didn't like th ball of light thing... otherwise, quite good. I looked out for a shadowy figure hiding behind a tree - they should have put that in because Ron does see something!
- Yay for Ron saving Harry from drowning! =D
- Taboo - it appears that they get discovered in the restaurant/cafe thing after saying Voldemort, but there's no mention of it being taboo-ed and I can't remember if they say it before they get caught by the snatchers
- Gurdyroot infusion - well, it's something disgusting, but I think they called it tea... Xenophilius is good though XD
- They didn't do Luna's bedroom! ='(
- Potterwatch - it was quite sad that they didn't do proper Potterwatch, but the radio they were listening to was quite effective. It was interesting how the radio was annoying to Harry in the film, whereas in the book it was Hermione who got annoyed...
- Snatchers - as previously mentioned, I loved the scene where they first appear! I also LOVE the main snatcher guy, who I assume is supposed to be Scabior. He has a kind of Jack Sparrow look about him XD
- Vernon Dudley! Hehe! But it doesn't explain why he uses Dudley as a surname... more confusion for non book readers!
- Harry seeing what Voldy's doing - there's a little bit, but not much... it allows him to know Voldy's after the Elder Wand, and that's about it...
- Draco scared of identifying Harry - I just loved the way Bellatrix had grabbed Harry and was mushing his face next to hers as if she's asking Draco to see a resemblence between them! Hehe! Tom Felton was generally good as always though
- The eye in the mirror - just seemed to happen in Privett Drive and Harry didn't seem to think anything of it, and then he happened to have hidden it in his sock - well, you never know when a broken chunk of mirror might come in handy(!)
- Wormtail strangled by his own hand - I suppose it would have broken the pace at this point
- Harry taking Draco's wand - I think this happened - otherwise the whole Elder wand plot is down the drain!
- Dobby *sob* killed *sob* by Bellatrix *sob* - THIS was SO well done -- the TENSION!! D= (More on Dobby later)
- Dumbledore's tomb - yes, it looks like a Jenga puzzle... what more can I say?
And my other thoughts: (hopefully in chronological order!)
- Hermione's family looked really posh - and didn't they call her down for dinner, then they were sitting in the living room... =/ I loved the way they did the pictures - I wonder if they were real pictures of Emma when she was younger - they looked authentic!
- Voldemort makes a remark about Pius Thicknesse being a typical politician when he's being corrupt - LOL!
- I loved the way Hermione and Scrimgeour were tense when he gives Harry the snitch but it doesn't explain why till later <3
- Luna: "Harry doesn't want to talk to us, he's just too polite to say so" - Okay, so maybe I've been obsessing a bit too much, but this made me think of Sherlock Holmes
- When Kreacher and Dobby both come back with Mundungus - this seems to be stolen from the bit in Half-Blood Prince where Harry orders them to follow Malfoy - but at least they're using other canon material rather than just making up random stuff!
- No muggles in bikinis on Sirius' walls, no Gryffindor banners either =(
- The ministry - those actors playing Cattermole/Ron and Runcorn/Harry were really good! <3
- Because there isn't the bit where Kreacher becomes nice it isn't so much of a loss when they can't go back to Grimmauld Place, but I can understand that that would be hard to translate to screen
- When hearing that Snape is headmaster there isn't as much anger about it - in the book Harry is outraged!
- The Harry/Hermione dancing scene - I was quite happy with this, although it seemed a little out of character. It could have been MEGA cheesy, but it wasn't, so it's all good =)
- Hermione: "I use logic/I don't let other things get in the way of my thoughts/etc" - Me and Amy just turned to each other and said "Sherlock Holmes" at the same time... LOVE! <3
- I LOVED that they put in the bit where Ron makes them vote on going to the Lovegood's! Hehe!
- Running away from the snatchers - why didn't they apparate?? =/
- DOBBY! He was so cute! I'm glad they added more of him, especially because we haven't seen him since Chamber of Secrets! When he was unscrewing the chandelier - SO CUTE!! LOVE! Dobby is a large factor in my decision to see the film again! <3
Wow! This turned out longer than I expected! Thanks for actually taking the time to read it =D
My plan is currently to reread the book before seeing the film again, possibly with my dad, because I'm sure he wants to see it! Or some of my friends who haven't gone to see it already (or who are just as crazy as me and want to see it again!)
So... Part 2! This should take place mainly over one day - breaking in to Gringotts and going to Hogwarts all happen on the same day (or at least without them sleeping in between!) -- it should be action packed, but with lots of juicy canon plot and lots of tying up of loose ends! Basically, I CAN'T WAIT!
Look out for my entry after viewing #2 XD