I for one cannot WAIT for the Bellatrix vs Molly Weasley showdown. Gonna be epic! Best scene in book *NM*
Bookwyrm Send a noteboard - 05/12/2010 07:41:53 AM
Long story short, it was good. Go see it.
Long story cut in half and made into a movie? It's definitely worth watching. The script sticks much more closely to the original than the previous movies, and the liberties which were taken have largely been smoothed out. There's a bit of awkward, rushed exposition in the first few scenes (Oh hi Harry here's Bill and Fleur they're gonna get hitched oh and he got bit by a werewolf he likes his steaks raw and also Remus and Tonks are married and she is MASSIVE INTERRUPTION), but there are relatively few bumps throughout.
The Burrow, despite its earlier troubles, is apparently fully functional again. Which makes one wonder why exactly it had to suffer such troubles, but there you go.
The acting of the supporting characters is, of course, wonderful, and it's nice to see continued improvement in the abilities of Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson (Ms. Watson, I know you don't read this, but if you by some chance do: congratulations on the reduction of erratic eyebrow spasms. There's still some work to be done, though; keep it up!). Particularly of note is the supporting role of Yaxley, played by Johnpaul Castrianni, who does a fantastic job at acting the Gestapo-esque villain needed by Voldemort at the Ministry.
Plotwise, there isn't terribly much I can give away without making this a spoiler-tastic review. There are a few instances where they deviate from the book--they show some actions that Hermione takes over the summer instead of having her tell Harry & Ron about them, for instance--but they generally are done much better in the new style. There is more of a Hermione/Harry subtext than in the books, which is rather odd given Harry's obvious feelings for Ginny. Harry's somewhat maudlin nature does of course show up, but it generally emerges only in situations whose context calls for it. Additionally, not a great deal of time is given to the period between the wedding and the trio leaving Grimmauld Place, which I maintain is the best writing Rowling has done to day.
The most awkward difference I can probably think of is that the Taboo is not discussed, and so people suddenly switch from "Voldemort" to "You-Know-Who" without any reason given.
The special effects are the best they have been, obviously, and the various duels are a treat to watch, as is Ron's destruction of the Horcrux. Part One ends with the escape from Malfoy Manor and Dobby's death, which makes me hope for a Part Two that consists mostly of action.
As a movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part One) gets a 3.5 out of 5 stars, for providing an entertaining but generally unsurprising film.
As a Harry Potter movie, I give it 4.5 out of 5 wands.
Long story cut in half and made into a movie? It's definitely worth watching. The script sticks much more closely to the original than the previous movies, and the liberties which were taken have largely been smoothed out. There's a bit of awkward, rushed exposition in the first few scenes (Oh hi Harry here's Bill and Fleur they're gonna get hitched oh and he got bit by a werewolf he likes his steaks raw and also Remus and Tonks are married and she is MASSIVE INTERRUPTION), but there are relatively few bumps throughout.
The Burrow, despite its earlier troubles, is apparently fully functional again. Which makes one wonder why exactly it had to suffer such troubles, but there you go.
The acting of the supporting characters is, of course, wonderful, and it's nice to see continued improvement in the abilities of Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson (Ms. Watson, I know you don't read this, but if you by some chance do: congratulations on the reduction of erratic eyebrow spasms. There's still some work to be done, though; keep it up!). Particularly of note is the supporting role of Yaxley, played by Johnpaul Castrianni, who does a fantastic job at acting the Gestapo-esque villain needed by Voldemort at the Ministry.
Plotwise, there isn't terribly much I can give away without making this a spoiler-tastic review. There are a few instances where they deviate from the book--they show some actions that Hermione takes over the summer instead of having her tell Harry & Ron about them, for instance--but they generally are done much better in the new style. There is more of a Hermione/Harry subtext than in the books, which is rather odd given Harry's obvious feelings for Ginny. Harry's somewhat maudlin nature does of course show up, but it generally emerges only in situations whose context calls for it. Additionally, not a great deal of time is given to the period between the wedding and the trio leaving Grimmauld Place, which I maintain is the best writing Rowling has done to day.
The most awkward difference I can probably think of is that the Taboo is not discussed, and so people suddenly switch from "Voldemort" to "You-Know-Who" without any reason given.
The special effects are the best they have been, obviously, and the various duels are a treat to watch, as is Ron's destruction of the Horcrux. Part One ends with the escape from Malfoy Manor and Dobby's death, which makes me hope for a Part Two that consists mostly of action.
As a movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part One) gets a 3.5 out of 5 stars, for providing an entertaining but generally unsurprising film.
As a Harry Potter movie, I give it 4.5 out of 5 wands.
BOHICA - Go ahead, ask me what it means.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One (spoiler-free)
15/11/2010 07:05:18 PM
- 1841 Views
Free?
15/11/2010 07:37:31 PM
- 733 Views
I figure it's fair. I mean, the universe has to make up for you being you sometimes, right?
15/11/2010 10:28:46 PM
- 823 Views
Sorry, I can't hear you over everyone in the theater talking before the film.
15/11/2010 11:47:11 PM
- 786 Views
...If my friends and I can get a seat. Holy crap is this line long. *NM*
15/11/2010 11:18:02 PM
- 436 Views
Hah, well, that subtext is probably a good thing (spoilers)
16/11/2010 02:24:13 PM
- 922 Views
Yeah, but unfortunately it just comes off as being really out of nowhere.
16/11/2010 05:29:26 PM
- 771 Views
I am sooooo over HP. I'll probably wait a week for the fan-storm to blow over, or wait 'till dvd.
16/11/2010 03:43:27 PM
- 887 Views
NSSP: So?
16/11/2010 05:50:53 PM
- 665 Views
I'm thinking you'd be really, really, really confused. It might be a bit like surrealist art.
16/11/2010 06:04:37 PM
- 825 Views
But the 7th book relies so heavily on the 6th, it would be pretty impossible.
16/11/2010 08:29:28 PM
- 926 Views
You ought to read or watch them just for their cultural relevance.
16/11/2010 08:30:45 PM
- 844 Views
I see the , but serioiusly, I don't think I need to.
17/11/2010 05:53:27 PM
- 781 Views
It's about as influential as Star Wars, which I guess depends on how influential you think SW is.
17/11/2010 09:23:55 PM
- 790 Views
That seems a bit early to say - wait till twenty years have passed, then check again. *NM*
18/11/2010 03:46:24 PM
- 440 Views
Fair enough, but I think we're already seeing its influence on children's literature. *NM*
19/11/2010 08:41:51 PM
- 477 Views
Re: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One (spoiler-free)
18/11/2010 11:02:29 AM
- 822 Views
didn't like 3/5 for me
21/11/2010 12:57:59 AM
- 896 Views
I'm glad it's 2 films, but the total run time could be 4 hours instead of 5 hours *NM*
21/11/2010 07:15:54 AM
- 423 Views
i guess even with severe editing one film would have ran for 4 hours
22/11/2010 11:53:13 AM
- 773 Views
the dance was one of the best scenes in the film, imo. *NM*
22/11/2010 07:09:26 PM
- 416 Views
Yeah, I really liked it.
22/11/2010 08:10:08 PM
- 732 Views
Re: Yeah, I really liked it.
23/11/2010 10:20:26 PM
- 718 Views
yes, but we can't have CHARACTERIZATION!!!
24/11/2010 06:55:39 AM
- 678 Views
it wasn't characterisation, it was horribly awkward and clumsily crowbarred in
25/11/2010 01:15:20 AM
- 638 Views
*shrug* I liked the scene. It was something lighthearted in the middle of a lot of bleakness
25/11/2010 01:43:14 AM
- 695 Views
I was against the idea of splitting it when that was first announced
29/11/2010 03:02:27 PM
- 748 Views
Wow. Awesome. Makes it all the sadder how bad the others were, but oh well.
26/11/2010 10:48:35 PM
- 799 Views
A few more detailed thoughts about why this film blows its predecessors out of the water
29/11/2010 02:46:23 PM
- 888 Views
One scene they could have made scarier (spoilers)
30/11/2010 05:16:42 PM
- 813 Views
oh I dunno...
01/12/2010 08:25:20 AM
- 799 Views
I for one cannot WAIT for the Bellatrix vs Molly Weasley showdown. Gonna be epic! Best scene in book *NM*
05/12/2010 07:41:53 AM
- 420 Views