Pottermania, part one

[owlmoose]

So I saw Order of the Phoenix today. I enjoyed it, quite a lot. Visually it was intense and stylish, the acting was top-notch. The girl they got to play Luna must have been born for the role, and Umbridge was also note-perfect. They did a pretty decent job of trimming the story, and given how sprawling the book was, it couldn't have been an easy task. But it still felt like a lot was missing -- I wish they could have included Sirius's impatience with his confinement, Harry's interview with the Quibbler, more of Fred and George's pranks on Umbridge. And I think anyone who hasn't read the book would be... maybe not confused, but they aren't going to get near as much out of it. Many plot and character points were slid over, either skipped or not treated with the gravity they deserved (Hermione saying Voldemort's name for the first time comes to mind). I think Goblet of Fire did a better job of telling a story that was coherent and complete within itself.

The battle in the Ministry of Magic was stupendous. I loved the scenes with the DA, and the way they worked in Snape's worst memory. And CAPSLOCK!Harry translated to the screen really well, through the acting and the writing. So the movie does get a thumbs-up. I don't know how it could have been better unless it were three hours long, and I don't think most movie-going audiences would have put up with 45 minutes of Harry and Sirius angst. So maybe it's for the best; perhaps this is the best possible OoTP movie that Hollywood could have made. It mostly hit the right notes; I am satisfied.

So I still haven't reserved a copy of Deathly Hallows anywhere. This is perhaps idiotic of me, since I do want the book on the first day. (Avoiding spoilers is priority one! I've already filtered about half my communities out of my friends list, just in case.) I should get my plan in place sooner rather than later, huh?

Comments

[cosmorific.livejournal.com]

I really liked the way they toned down Harry's capslocking for the movie - it made you sympathize more with why he reacted the way he did, rather than just wanting to smack him upside the head. And I agree with you that Luna and Umbridge were perfect.

I reserved a copy of DH at Borders; you can borrow it if you like once I've got my hands on it.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I found out that I still had time to reserve one at my local Borders. So I did. I really appreciate the offer though!! :)

[cosmorific.livejournal.com]

No prob, glad it worked out. :)

[anonamys.livejournal.com]

Not only have we not reserved a copy, we are going to be out in the middle of nowhere on the 21st. We haven't decided if we are going to make a special trip (that would take an hour and half each way) to pick up the book on Saturday or just wait until Sunday. It'd be nice to have it to read while we are out in the middle of nowhere (and not have to worry about spoilers when we get back on Sunday), but it's a hefty drive for a weekend that's supposed to be all about lazing around.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that is a dilemma. So there's really nowhere closer to where you're going to be?

One thing, though, you could at least read the book on the way back from the long drive. ;)

[anonamys.livejournal.com]

Nope, nowhere closer. We're talking a 45-minute-drive-down-an unpaved-road version of "out in the middle of nowhere". (You can look for Trinity, WA on google maps. Do the satellite view if you'd like to really see how nowhere it is.

And sadly, I can't read in the car. Even looking at a map for a minute or two makes me queasy.

But I think I'll survive waiting until Sunday evening. After all, I'm not working yet.