I went into the movie telling myself to not get caught up in the fact that they had basically cut out 3/4 of the book. The book is 870+ pages, the movie is 138 minutes (the shortest movie of the series so far...sigh.) And I have to say, I think they did a pretty good job. But the movies have gotten to the point where it is just impossible for someone to watch them without reading the books first. Sure, they are fun for the action sequences and the whole magic thing, but if you care anything about following a plot, you're out of luck.
Alright, here comes the fun part where there are spoilers. Don't read this if you haven't read the books (I'LL KNOW) or don't want to be spoiled for the movie.
(Also bear in mind I am writing this based off of memory, with no notes.)
The Good
- Dan Rad. I read a review before I saw the movie saying how Daniel Radcliffe's acting was embarrassing, or something to that effect. I really thought he pulled it off though, like last movie. I wish he had been a little more angry and act the part of the angsty, self-centered teen, but I suppose people would have complained about that too.
- Evanna Lynch, aka Luna. Lord have mercy. I am completely convinced that Jo Rowling went to Platform 9 and 3/4, took the train to Hogwarts, and pulled the actual Luna out and told her to be in the film. Folks, this girl IS Luna. She was great.
- Imelda Staunton as Umbridge. See above. No joke.
- Dumbledore. Michael Gambon finally pulled a movie off. The scene at the end, while WAY TOO SHORT, killed me. He tears up, people. As he should.
- The progression of the Ron/Hermione relationship. Can I get a FINALLY? Loved the little scene where Ron was begging Hermione to do his homework for him, and she was all "NO!" And then she was like "Well, fine, I'll do the introduction." And they had a MOMENT. The shipper part of me I keep suppressed underneath the professionalism and the whole "These books are about good over evil and love and not just teenagers snogging!" schtick squeed a little.
- The thestrals. I heard some complaints, but they ARE supposed to look dragon-ish and not entirely like horses.
- The Patronus scene! Awesome.
- Ginny. I cannot wait for the next movie.
- The fight in the DoM was pretty awesome - what with the flicking of wands and the spells and the Apparating. It was crazy.
- Voldemort/Dumbledore fight. Awesome.
The Bad
- The opening scene with Dudley. Harry should not have been waving his wand about, threatening Dudley with his friends standing all around. That is an even greater misdemeanor than using the Patronus Charm.
- The dementors.
- No Howler to Petunia from Dumbledore. I am convinced this is important in the 7th book!!!
- No explanation about Percy, and he was there!
- They shortened the Snape's Worst Memory scene! I am also convinced this is important!
- Maybe not bad, but I find it funny that in the book, Ginny is always portayed as doing this one spell (the Bat-Bogey Hex), and in the movie all she does is Reducto.
The Ugly
- They screwed up the prophecy. Again.
- On the prophecy line, why didn't they talk about how Neville could have been the Chosen One? Since Harry and Neville did have a talk in this film where it was clear they were a lot alike, it bothered me that they didn't explore that... although I guess we don't know how important it really is.
- Changing the betrayal scene to it being a bewitched Cho. How hard is it to hire a glorified extra to be Marietta Edgecomb, explain that she is Cho's friend, have her show up with SNEAK written on her forehead, and explain that Hermione bewitched the sign-up sheet? NOT HARD AT ALL.
- The shortened Dumbledore/Harry scene that explains everything. It was literally 15 seconds long. In the book, I didn't cry when Sirius died, I cried at that specific scene. It just felt to heart-wrenchingly real. He's throwing things around, yelling at Dumbledore, feeling like his lungs and heart are going to burst. I said after I read the book that that scene would be Dan Rad's Oscar winning material. I'll stand by that, if they left it in. And they didn't. Sorry Radcakes.
The "Meh"
- Sirius' death. I've been hearing this from a lot of other people that it was just... off. Not in any specific "OMG THEY CHANGED THIS" way, but... off. Maybe it was the fact that they made it completely obvious it was an AK that killed him, and not just some ambiguous spell that Stunned him and sent him through the veil. I thought this was important...
- The veil. I still don't know my feelings on it.
- No Quidditch? It would have been fun, but... meh.
- Grawp. He is dangerous and violent in the books, and in the movie he is... cute and likeable? I dunno.
- The possession scene. I think Dan Rad did an awesome job with it, but... it also felt a little off to me. I have to see it again.
- The ending. The part with Luna was absolutely perfect, but the rest was... not very memorable? I would have liked it to be as it was in the book, but I guess you can't have everything (clearly.)
Overall, I thought it was great. The movies are always really fun to see, and it is interesting when you can truly consider them a part of the canon when Jo insists something remain in (Kreacher) or gives little clues (something in the 3rd movie foreshadowed something in the last book!) I definitely recommend it, but it might be best if you have read the books.
5/5
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