Sunday, August 7, 2011

Harry Potter 7.2

So...I have already complained about the audience at the movie theater the night I saw Harry Potter, but I haven't said anything about what I thought of the movie.  I can't be too detailed about it at this point, because I have prego brain and can't remember details all that well.  I plan on seeing it again, but I thought I'd let you know what my overall impressions were.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Stuff that I didn't love
Changes that were made  Movies are different than books.  Things that work in books don't always work in movies.  So I try very hard to keep an open mind when there are deviations from the book.  However, there were a few things that were different from the book that I thought should have stayed the same.  Harry and Voldemort's final battle takes place in the Great Hall in the book, with the entire wizarding community watching.  It seems pretty important to me that everyone sees Harry finally defeat Voldemort for good.  In the movie, though, they duke it out in the courtyard while everyone's inside.  It makes it seem less significant, somehow.  One of my favorite parts of the book is when Mrs. Weasley takes out Bellatrix LeStrange.  This still happens in the movie, but I wanted it to be a longer battle with a little more oomph.  It seemed too minor to me.  Still, at least that wasn't left out, nor was Mrs. Weasley's line, which I won't quote, but it happens to be one of my favorite lines in the book and the movie.

Draco as an old guy  The rest of the cast looked pretty convincing as being 19 years older, considering the fact that the actors are almost that old anyway.  But putting a beard on Draco was just silly.  Laughable, really.

Stuff I loved
Everything else, but let's start with the emotional stuff  I'm sure there were other things I wished were different, but I can't remember what they are.  I do remember that I loved the way they handled Snape's memories.  Oh, how I cried.  I was biting back sobs.  It's because I read the book and knew what was coming.  I could barely handle the sadness and tragedy associated with Snape.  I also loved Harry's walk through the woods, when he's there with his parents and loved ones.  (Again with the sobs.)  The book describes the scene very clearly and very well, but seeing it on the big screen was even more moving to me.  I think that was the case for most of the movie, really.  Seeing Tonks and Lupin laid out, the Weasley family weeping over Fred's body, and Hogwarts in ruins made the fact that it was the last movie real.  And got the tears flowing even more.

Some of the funny moments that I appreciated because they lightened the tone:  Ron and Hermione making out after destroying the horcrux.  Hilarious.  And seriously, it's about time.  Also, Hermione as Bellatrix.  Helena Bonham Carter is one talented actress.  She does good girl trying to do evil witch so convincingly.  I also loved Harry pointing out that there was no need to plan, considering that none of their plans work anyway.  Good point, Harry.

Like I said, my memory is shot.  I like the movie a lot.  I can't wait to see it again.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

1 comment:

Christina said...

I finally saw the movie Saturday night. It makes me sad that it's all over. I also loved the part where Hermione tranformed into Bellatrix.