mostly I want to know how snakey Nagini is

[pellucid]

I have not been to the new HP film, nor have I yet decided whether I plan to see it. See, I have a bit of a snake problem. For values of "problem" that mean "totally irrational phobia in which I have to leave the room when there's one on TV, or in conversation, or whatever." I did okay with the book because of the lack of a visual, but as I was

Comments

[rachelmanija]

From friendsfriends: Very snaky, and she moves disturbingly fast. However, if you're OK with closing your eyes or going with a friend who can tell you when to open, here's where to close your eyes:

Right at the beginning, the scene with Voldemort and his buddies.

The scene where Harry and Hermione follow the creepy old lady into her cottage.

That's all I remember.

[pellucid]

Thank you! And hmm, I fear that even with warnings, I'd spend the movie so anxious about when the snake would next appear that my enjoyment would be significantly compromised. Perhaps I'll wait until it comes out on DVD, then see it with some fan who has watched it multiple times and would be both capable of warning me and willing to fast-forward and/or mute the relevant spots. Stupid snake! (Or stupid me for having this silly fear, more likely.)

[gabolange]

I have nothing but fond memories of Iowa; it was, in fact, the state to break me of my "nowhere that begins and ends with a vowel" promise! But I know exactly how you feel right now, so I will simply continue to cross my fingers at the universe.

[pellucid]

The school in Iowa actually sounds pretty cool (I'll tell you more about it in a non-public-post context, if you'd like), but, well, you know how I feel about the Midwest. Pick the exact same job situation, with the same amount of rural-ness and all that, and put it in pretty much any other geographical region, and I'd be happier. Including in South Dakota (the location there is actually pretty great, but the job itself leaves some things to be desired).

Also, I suppose it's hard to get truly enthusiastic about any of these in the face of Dream Job, which I should really try to stop thinking about, if I can, because that's just not productive at all. Oh well.

[lifelongfling]

Nagini only makes two (if I remember correctly) appearances in the movie. Near the beginning at Malfoy Manor and then in Godric's Hollow. The first is kind of tame, until right before the scene switches and she comes right at the camera. I think that was intended as a great 3D effect, if the 3D had actually happened. Godric's Hollow.....there's a bit of a scare factor intended. You think she's gone but then jumps back up at you. I would definitely recommend going with someone who can tell you when not to look, unless even the sounds of a snake are too much for you.

As always, you probably aren't missing much if you don't see the movie and have read the books, since there are bits that I thought rather important that they left out. If you're a Harry/Hermione shipper though, you may want to watch.

[pellucid]

The sounds can be a bit much on their own. When I was taking Spanish in high school, the department only had two movies in Spanish (this in the pre-DVD days, obviously): E. T. (which I have seen many more times in Spanish than in English) and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I'm pretty sure we watched them both at least once in each of the four years I took a Spanish class, and it was so frustrating trying to explain each year to the teacher that I really needed to just go stand in the hallway for a few minutes during the RotLA snake scene; closing my eyes wasn't sufficient.

Probably I will either wait to watch it with someone who has seen it after it comes out on DVD--so that there can be both eye-closing and pausing involved--or I'll just skip it. I have no Harry/Hermione investment (or ship investments of any kind in this story), and I have been somewhat disappointed by all the films since Prisoner of Azkaban, so...yeah. Stupid snake!

[liminalliz]

OMG. SERIOUS SNAKE TIME, FREAKED ME THE HELL OUT. But you can easily hide you eyes through the two scenes

[pellucid]

Yeah, I'm increasingly suspecting this snake will not be for me! (Plus, you know there will be more than two snake scenes in part 2, so perhaps it's better just to cut my losses on this one.)

VDT!!!!!! I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high because, well, I can be a bit of a book purist, even when I try not to be, and this was my MOST FAVORITE BOOK, and while I've not been out spoiler-hunting, I hear that they've taken some liberties. BUT I AM STILL VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!

[liminalliz]

The more I read about it, the more I'm worried about the oncoming LIZZEN SHAME HAND TO THE SCREENWRITERS regarding some very strange rewriting of the story so that it feels more like an arc than episode-episode-episode. IDK. I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT. BUT I AM ALSO AT THE SAME TIME: CRAZY EXCITED. so. It evens out?

[abyssinia4077]

I like snakes! Like I love looking at them in zoos and stuff. Ask Bean about the snake we saw on the trail that I spent a while admiring how pretty it was while she FREAKED OUT.

I'm not into holding snakes and I don't want them crawling on me, but I like them.

I just got back from Harry Potter. Nagini? Kinda freaked me out. I'd say watch it with someone who has seen it and can tell you want to close your eyes.

[beanpot]

It was going to *eat* me. And I didn't necessarily freak out so much as RUN THE FUCK THE OTHER WAY and abandoned you on a trail. For a bit.

[pellucid]

I completely believe you! ;)

[pellucid]

Yeah, I think I'll probably just pass. It's not like I've found a HP movie truly worthwhile since Prisoner of Azkaban, and even if there are just two snake scenes in this one, you know there will be more in part 2. Even with a guide, I think I'd spend too much time being anxious about the snake, or that my guide would forget or tell me too late or something.

I have made progress, though, in the sense that I hike so much less anxiously than I did for some years. At some point my love of the outdoors managed to overcome my fear that I might see a snake. But I'm not going to go seek one out. (It's worth noting that my fear is largely of seeing a snake: it doesn't matter whether it's poisonous, it doesn't matter how big it is, and I don't think it's going to hurt me. But if I don't see them, I can pretend they don't actually exist.)