HP & OotP: my thoughts

[orangerful]

Last night, we went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter at the Senator Theater. More on the general experience of that later. Right now, I must get my thoughts on my movie down before I start reading everyone else's comments!

First, I'll be honest. I've only read the books once. I want to re-read them, I really do, I just haven't had time. I'm a slow reader and working in a library makes it hard for me to focus on the books I own when there are so many more to borrow! So, the events of book 5 are not fresh in my mind. I only remember the moments that had an impact on me. So I can't do a lot of book to movie comparison. This is just going to be me talking about how I felt about the movie.

After seeing 'Order', I have to say I think it is my second favorite of the film franchise -- Azkaban is still number one for me*. I think all of the Potter films suffer from the fact that they have to cover SO much time in 2 hours. Rowling stretches the story an entire year, how many books or movies can you think of where they cover an entire year in 2 hours? Not too many. And since these books (esp Order) are massive tomes, things will get cut, and editing can get a bit weird. But I felt the director and editor did a very good job with 'Order', keeping it moving but not making you feel like you'd missed huge chunks of anything.

It's clear that the screenplay writer examined the book and tried to find the biggest theme he could and latched on to that - Will Harry fall to the dark side become Voldemort? Any part of the book that was not directly tied to that theme had to go. It would have just weighed down the flow of the story and made the story too convoluted to tell on screen.



-I really liked Luna Lovegood. I felt like she had a bigger role in the book, so I was sad she wasn't featured as much in the movie, but I liked her. (again, the scriptwriter found the core of her purpose in the story, to make Harry realize that he's never alone, got her to accomplish that, then let her join the rest of the gang).

-While I was hoping to cry during Trelawney's explusion and Sirius' death scene, the part that actually got me choked up was Neville seeing Bellatrix in the newspaper and then Harry talking to him when he was looking at the group photo of the original 'Order'.

-The other part I started to get sniffly over was the little flashback at the end, that showed clips from the previous 4 films of the trio. They are all grows up!

-Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort. Just. So. Perfect.

-I was reminded of 'Attack of the Clones' during the final battle scene between Voldie and Dumble. You know, watching Dooku and Yoda and thinking "Oh damn this is cool...but wait, there's another movie to come...they are going to have to TOP THIS for the next movie! *anticipates*"

-Kid who plays Malfoy had a growth spurt didn't he!? He was so tall compared to Harry...in the one scene they had together. Malfoy really wasn't as big a part of this one. But that's okay, it can get a bit tiresome watching his throw insults at Harry.

-I wanted a bit more of the 'Order'. But it would have been a whole lot of character introduction and such. Still, I'm hoping for pretty deleted scenes.

- only scene that I wish had been a bit crazier was the Twin's exit. I felt like it was even more out of control in the book. Or at least in my mind. :D

...I probably have more to say, but we'll stop here because this post is insane already.



So, yes, good movie! If you sit and compare it to the book, I doubt it will hold up, but as Harry Potter films go, I think it was really good. Satisfying like a Snickers. I think the director did a much better job than the last guy juggling the massive amount of plot that needed to be shown vs. what the fans would want to see.

Oh, and if you see the A&E special is on TV and you have not seen the movie yet - DO NOT WATCH IT! They show SO much of the movie, it would just ruin so many moments. Tape it for later but don't watch it. I just started to (because I DVR'd it) and I'm so happy I didn't watch it, I think it would have taken some of the fun out of the film for me.

*for those who care, the order goes Azkaban, Phoenix, Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber, Goblet.

Comments

[bittertwee.livejournal.com]

oh man, I'm dying to read this, but I'm not seeing the movie until next week. I'll come back, I promise!

[cheshire-c.livejournal.com]

I just got home from watching it. I'd reread all the books in preparation for #7, so there was certainly part of my mind going, "Oh, that's an interesting way to change the plot. Guess they had to save time there." Especially the fate of poor Cho in the movie stood out.

I also agree that the twins needed an even bigger going away party. Especially they needed to put the swamp in the corridor like in the book, 'cause that was just priceless.

I'm just going to keep agreeing with you here... Esp. that part of Dumbly-dore and Lord V fighting, I even thought to myself, "Are they using light saber sounds?"

Overall, about what I expected. Not sure I liked it as much as I think you did... Except one last thing that I just have to include: Mmmm, Lucius. Yummy!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

well, now that we know Cho is not going to turn out to be Harry's "true love" then the writer was probably like "great, two birds, one stone!".

I want to see the movie again, midnight madness always improves the experience of a film, so I might need to see it again on a regular afternoon showing and see how I feel. I know when I came home from GoF, I remember already feeling disappointed, and I didn't feel that way about this movie, so I think I liked it more.

AH! Freaky Lucius fangirl! He's a frakkin' NAZI!

Lucius!

[cheshire-c.livejournal.com]

But you can't deny the yumminess!!

Re: Lucius!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I have to. I deny it! I am denying it right now!

Plus, I could never love a man who clearly does a better job of maintaining his hair than I do!

Re: Lucius!

[cheshire-c.livejournal.com]

Mmm, yes, nice hair. I think I prefer this to that black, curly wig he had as Captain Hook.

OK, then, is it safe to point out that the Weasley twins (and Ron, for that matter) are growing up nicely?

[sideflip1.livejournal.com]

i saw this today, spur of the moment. i really like Luna Lovegood too. i think they did a decent job trying to cover the main things that were in the book, but that book was really long! and i felt the fighting scene at the end between the Order and the Death eaters was not nearly as intense as i remember it being while reading it in the book. but overall, pretty good. i think i enjoyed this movie better b/c this time i read the book first, otherwise i wouldn't have understood as much.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the fight scene was crazy, I had a hard time keeping track of who was zapping who. But in retrospect, they were probably trying to not go too crazy so the fight between D & V after it could be a more of a showstopper. Definitely had story issues, but not as many as I think GoF did.

[jellibean.livejournal.com]

OMG! I started tearing up every time I saw Neville's parents. EVERY TIME.

I hated Sirius's death. It was so anti-climactic, and in the book it happens as a result of a fight between Bellatrix and Sirius. Which would have been easy to do in the movie and was important because of the family connection.

I wanted more of the Order too, especially Tonks. The twins' leaving should have been crazier, too. More mayhem and mess. The fireworks were too orderly for the Weasley twins! Luna was perfect.

I need to watch Azkaban again, because everyone I know looooved it, but of the first three, that was my least favorite. Continuity changes, and especially NOT explaining easy but important things (who Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs are, why Harry's Patronus is a stag, etc.) really irritated me.

And now that I think about it, Harry refers to Sirius as Padfoot in OotP. So we just have to assume that he learned all of this stuff sometime off-screen? If they haven't read the books, I imagine it would be confusing to people to hear him referred to as Padfoot and bring up other questions about the Marauder's Map.

But I loved OotP. I'm seeing it again tomorrow... gotta finish my radish earrings today! ^_^

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Azkaban is still my favorite because to me, it feels the most complete yet not as kidly as the first two. I know huge chunks of story were dropped, but not as much as from GoF and OotP, which is why it's still my favorite. I feel like I can still watch it as a standalone movie.

There was so much more I wanted to see, but if they had added it in, the film would have been sooooo long. So I'm just hoping they shot more scenes and they can cram them on onto the DVD (or even better, they need to pull a Peter Jackson and put out a "special edition" with all those scenes inserted. I'll watch a 3 hour movie when I'm at home and can pause it!)

[lostacanthus.livejournal.com]

hey! I pretty much agree with everything you said. :) After I got over all of the stuff they left out, and have come to terms with the whole 'they can't fit that whole freaking book into a 2 hr movie' thing, it was actually REALLY REALLY good. Even though they left out St. Mungos and the screaming portrait AND THE BRAINSHOMG! They got the point across and omg I want to see it again so bad!

word on the whole Fred and George thing. It really wasn't that spectacular in the movie. And they should've been in it more. Hell, they could probably make a movie with just Fred and George and I would totally watch it and love it. ♥

AZKABAN IS MY FAVORITE TOO ♥ So of course I kept comparing OotP to PoA >_< WHICH IS WRONG! It was hard not to though. I actually kind of liked Goblet of Fire. Only because Robert Pattinson is incredibly gorgeous. I liked it more than I liked the book.

That A&E thing is on now! :D

I'm also upset that there is NO BILL OR CHARLIE! WTF! In ANY of the movies! I want to see them in real life SO BAD. SO. BAD. And I was kind of upset that McGonagall wasn't as awesome as she was in the book. She was totally my hero. ♥

Oh! And Aunt Petunia never got the screamer thing in the movie! Isn't that kind of important?

Lucius was a million times hotter in this movie. I don't know why. But he was. And Sirius' death was a lot better. And I am totally in love with Snape. And WHY AM I SUDDENLY ATTRACTED TO DAN RAD??

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

WHY AM I SUDDENLY ATTRACTED TO DAN RAD?? Cuz he's all grows up and turning into a little hottie. ;-)

I'm just hoping for some good deleted scenes on the DVD. There was stuff I would like to have seen but it wasn't important to show in the movie, but I bet they filmed it. (Like watching the A&E thing, Emma Thompson talks a bit about Trelawney and she mentions a moment that I"m pretty sure wasn't in the film).

I want to see it again too! I'm so glad you had fun with my crazy crew! :)

[heiland-coo.livejournal.com]

I saw this again today and I have to say we were so spoiled seeing it at the Senator! I can't imagine watching it with "those" people at the regular movie theaters on opening night. Hardly anyone laughed or clapped. It was still good and I watched GoF when I got home and again fell asleep watching it. I also was seated in front of people who felt the need to comment; "that's not how it is in the book, oh my gosh, blah blah, blah" all I have to say is; "SHH"

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I also was seated in front of people who felt the need to comment; "that's not how it is in the book, oh my gosh, blah blah, blah" all I have to say is; "SHH"

And all I have to say to them is "Did you not SEE the last 4 movies???? They have ALL had major changes!" Seriously, if they are not over it be movie 5, they will never be over it.

Yes, that is the other thing about midnight madness, and actually all my experiences at The Senator - the audience is there to SEE THE MOVIE. Not talk or sleep - they want to experience the movie with other people they know appreciate it.

I want to see it again!!!