DH review

Nov. 19th, 2010 11:29 pm
ishtar79: (Default)
[personal profile] ishtar79
I saw DH yesterday (for ONCE Greece didn’t get screwed in terms of HP release dates), though this is the first chance I got to make a post.

-I admit, as much as HBP was a welcome step-up, I had pretty much given up on the HP films and no, this is not only due to the visual horror that is Alan Rickman. But this? I loved it not just as an adaptation, but as an actual MOVIE on its own merits. I never thought this would happen. Just so we’re clear though, I still covered my eyes for all Rickman scenes.

-The opening really, really worked. The somber tone, showing all three members of the Trio, the added scene of Hermione obliviating her parents (DH: now with 300% less exposition). Granted, Hermione disappearing from the pictures is not the way a memory spell works (hey, at least she didn’t stick them with a teenage Dawn), but it was great in film terms (This is the correct use of artistic license, Cuaron!).

-Speaking of the Trio…guys, they can all ACT now. Emma Watson has outgrown all unfortunate Shatnerian undertones and Spastic Eyebrow Syndrome. I don’t even care much about visual issues like Hermione’s poker-straight hair or Harry’s freakishly large head. Given how much of the movie the kids carried, it’s great that they were able to sell me on every single scene they were in.

-Daniel Radcliffe has comedic talent, no longer of the unintentional comedy kind. The scene were he was playing all the Polyjuiced order members was priceless.

-Rupert Grint is…oddly hot. The movies are so strange for me. I find myself rooting for Ron, repulsed by Snape and drawn despite myself to Voldemort.

-Speaking of unexpected hotness, holy shit, there will be SUCH a spike in Xenophilius Lovegood fic. The casting was inspired, and the way he played it like he just came in from a seventies orgy was GENIUS. I can’t even remember what the scene with Harry at the wedding was, because what I actually was hearing is this:

Xenophilius: Heeeey, Harry Potter. You can drop by my crib anytime. We can do some acid and be like, at one with the beauty of the universe man, free of constraints like clothes. Bring some friends, my hot tub has wizard space.
Harry:…I don’t know whether I’m scared or intrigued.
Luna: Dad, we’ve talked about your ‘coming on too strong’ problem.

-I kind of missed seeing Kreacher’s side story in DH, but it’s a minor nitpick. The sight of Mundungus getting pounced on by elves and cornered by a rather threatening-looking Trio more than made up for it (That image is begging to be macroed).

-I may have nightmares about Nagini for WEEKS.

-I only hope they’re balanced by some dreams of young!Grindelwald because, seriously: YUM.

-Seeing the settings of the wizarding world in all their cinematic glory was always one of my favourite aspects of the films, and this was no exception. The Ministry in particular was brilliantly done-part Orwellian nightmare, part Nazi Germany, part WWII propaganda posters-loved it!

-In fact, the whole section was one of my favourite bits, from the actors playing the Polyjuiced Trio, to Ron getting a little too in character and, of course, “You’re lying, Delores, and one must not tell lies” (GLEE!).

-So much Trio shippiness! I don’t even normally Trio ship, but this movie temporarily converted me. The hand grabbing, Ron’s adorably hilarious attempts at apologizing, Harry and Hermione’s dance (When alone in a tent with a girl, Harry’s first instinct is to do a jaunty old-fashioned dance. Yeah, that boy is SO straight!).

-So apparently the Horcrux tried to get to Ron by showing him a Harry and Hermione looking all Twilightified. It’s ok sweetie, I’ve always wanted to run Edward and Bella through with a sword too.

-The tale of the three brothers, interpreted by…Tim Burton, apparently. Seriously though, great way to deal with the exposition problem, and so fitting for a fairytale.

-I would totally watch an alternative movie set entirely in Malfoy Manor. Voldy greeting Snape like he just joined them for a tea party, Lucius looking totally wrecked and never hotter to me (I now want fic with movie Lucius and Xenophilius going on a booze and drugs bender, possibly blacking out and coming too in the Hog’s Head, trying to rationalize the presence of a goat. Come on, HP fandom, don’t let me down), Bellatrix being a completely all crazycakes and lethal (the way she just crushed those snatchers like they were insects! For once, a Death Eater looking all effective and freakin’ terrifying), Draco being all “I hate here SO MUCH! Send help”.

-Oh, and Dobby died. Eh.

I can't believe we have to wait a year for the second part. I can't believe I actually care.

Date: 2010-11-19 11:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ackonrad.livejournal.com
Everyone's reviews for this movie have been glowing. I disliked the book so much that I'd decided to skip it, but I might change my mind, if I find someone to go and see it with me.

How have you been? I might finally have a job (a real one, as a bilingual consultant) lined up. My interview is in December. Sadly, that would mean moving to Berlin.

Date: 2010-11-23 12:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ishtar79.livejournal.com
Like I said, I really thought it worked as a movie, which is something all the previous ones failed at.

I hope you get that job, it sounds interesting! I'm fine. Still no job, but I'm nearing the end of my MBA and will start sending out CVs early next year. Abroad, obviously, there's NOTHING here.

Date: 2010-11-20 01:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ariadneelda.livejournal.com
Xenophilius: Heeeey, Harry Potter. You can drop by my crib anytime. We can do some acid and be like, at one with the beauty of the universe man, free of constraints like clothes. Bring some friends, my hot tub has wizard space.
Harry:…I don’t know whether I’m scared or intrigued.
Luna: Dad, we’ve talked about your ‘coming on too strong’ problem.


Ahahahaha! That's brilliant. :)

I now want fic with movie Lucius and Xenophilius going on a booze and drugs bender, possibly blacking out and coming too in the Hog’s Head, trying to rationalize the presence of a goat.

LOLing again. Man, I want that, too.

Sooo. Did you do your review writing in class? :P

Date: 2010-11-23 12:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ishtar79.livejournal.com
It's always a bit ridiculous replying to a comment of yours days later when we've spoken on the phone like ten times since.

And right now, I really want to talk Dexter. TAKE CARE, LUMEN. *flails*

Date: 2010-11-23 12:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ariadneelda.livejournal.com
Call me! I'm still up.

Date: 2010-11-20 03:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] embers-log.livejournal.com
Stephen Fry said that this was the best of all the HP films (so far) which got me excited about it... I've EVEN been rereading the book (which I hadn't done since my original fast read when it first came out a few years ago)...
I'm planning to see the movie on Sunday (but I wasn't really afraid of spoilers, frankly I'm expecting the movie to be better than the book).

I'm glad to hear that you liked it!

Date: 2010-11-23 12:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ishtar79.livejournal.com
Seems like Stephen Fry and I are on the same page! I really need to reread the books, this movie revived my Potterlove.

Date: 2010-11-23 01:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] embers-log.livejournal.com
I was tempted to use a Stephen Fry icon, but Luscious Malfoy is cuter....
and I agree, but what I did was ordered my own copy of 'the Half Blood Prince'; I want to rewatch all the movies in order because this last one was so wonderful.

Date: 2010-11-20 06:24 am (UTC)
mordyn4: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mordyn4
Wonderful review! I still haven't seen it yet. I like to be fully spoiled.

Heh, there are a lot of great fic ideas in this post. :P

Date: 2010-11-23 12:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ishtar79.livejournal.com
Hee, the fic ideas are free for the taking.

Have you seen it yet?

Date: 2010-11-23 03:35 am (UTC)
mordyn4: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mordyn4
No, I've been too busy. Plus I'd like to see it with friends but none of us can get our schedules to match up. :(

Date: 2010-11-21 01:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mark356.livejournal.com
Agreed with you on the Hermione scene. In the book, the fact that she'd cast memory spells on her parents (not Obliviate in the book, actually, since she says on page 167 when she Obliviates the DEs in the all-night diner that she's never done it before) is just one fact that she throws into a beautiful conversation when she and Ron convince Harry that they're coming. Here they cut out that whole conversation (and Ron's thing with the ghoul) but put in a part of the scene where she actually does it-- a scene that works beautifully onscreen. Definitely a fair exchange, to my mind.

Btw, the way I read the part about the pictures was that she was casting other spells to erase herself from them too.

I loved Xeno Lovegood too!

Date: 2010-11-23 12:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ishtar79.livejournal.com
My memory on the details on the memory spell are fuzzy, so thanks for the refresher. And I didn't know that bit about the pictures, but it makes sense.

Q_Spade - back from the dead for one week only!

Date: 2010-12-26 10:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] utherben.livejournal.com
Or perhaps a bit longer...anyway, just wanted to give you a heads-up. Hope all is well, I've missed you!

I've not seen DH1, haven't had the time or the $$$, but your review is tempting me to check it out once it's on DVD.

Speaking of unexpected hotness, holy shit, there will be SUCH a spike in Xenophilius Lovegood fic.

Ooooooo, Rhys Ifans. I totally forgot he was in this film. I adore him. (also, I see what you did there – "spike"? Notting Hill? LOL!)

Is anything going on at DW? I still have to figure out what to do with my accounts there.
From: [identity profile] ishtar79.livejournal.com
HEY! It's good to hear from you! How have you been!

DW is pretty much the same, so I don't know that you should do anything with the account.

And definitely check DH out, it's worth it.

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