When the third Harry Potter book was about to be released as a film, I wondered how they could turn the longer-than-previous book into a film and have it work. It worked.
When the fourth was about out, I thought for sure this time they were in trouble. Yet, they pulled it off well.
And now... book the fifth!
(spoiler cut)
Alas, they stumbled. I'm very surprised they took the longest book and made it the shortest of the films -- seems very counterintuitive -- and it showed up in the film. More than anything the film felt very bullet-pointish to me in a way that the third and fourth did not. As if the context was "lets hit all the bases" rather than "lets tell a story in which the bases are in". Two very different films are created within the different contexts.
Yet... yet... something about the film left me with the feeling that a lot was left on the cutting room floor. I don't know what it was, exactly, but I don't think this was the film they exactly intended it to be, like there really is more there, just that they didn't show it. I never got that feeling from the previous films, so I don't think it's connected to the fact there is more in the books. Maybe there'll be an extended version out sometime. (Actually, I'm somewhat surprised they didn't go the two movie route: film the whole thing, then release the first installment, 9 months later the second installment. Keeps them on their 18 month per book schedule, and they could practially double their ticket take.)
At any rate, for what it was it was still a finely crafted movie.
- I'll start at the end: the wizard duel, done as a wizard duel should be done. I was so disappointed with the Gandalf vs Sauroman duel in FotR, so bland and unimaginative. While I'm disappointed they didn't include Dumbledore having the statues come to life the rest was grand, and worthy of such a battle between grand wizards.
- And the shattering glass into dust into cylinder effect was fantastico
- Some of the characters could have practically phoned their lines in...
- Yay, they kept the bridge! And the exterior shots of the castle as a whole were grand.
- Overall, visually, they translated the books very well to the film medium. Filch's nailing the proclamations to the wall, the ministry, Azkaban, all well done. Good screenplay and design team.
- I laughed at Filch's watching the wall.
- Why did they remove the pillows from the Room of Requirement?
- What's up with how they treat Harry's patronus? Seriously... for him to create a full-fledged patronous is a Big Deal, it's not easy to do. He gets his stag, once, in PoA, but they make so little deal of it there, and here he's creating just vapours again. Yet everyone in DA seems to be able to make bunnies and other full fledged things on what we could guess is their first try. Harumph.
- The atmosphere at the opening of the film (the lighting, scenery, etc) was excellent.
- The actress for Umbridge was astounding. Truly loathsome wrapped up in disturbing wrapped up in self-assured sweetness. Just as sickening as she should be. Wow. And those plates with the cats, equally disturbing.
- Top props, however, goes to Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood. Fantastic choice, absolutely fantastic. She played the part totally dreamy the whole way through, and it was perfect. They could have gone the weird, odd, eccentric, whatever route, but the way she played it, detached yet not, insightful and straight yet not entirely present, dream like voice, was exactly what the character deserved. Very well done.
- Not remembering too much of the score this time. Hmm.
So, that was the film. But the big news is, of course, the seventh book is now out. And I had an amusing incident today picking mine up. The first place I visited had none left. At the second store when I got the table where they were, there was one guy there reading the book, and no other copies on the table. I said "Wow, did you grab the last book?" and he replied "Did I? Huh... well, you can have this one once I'm done reading the last page here." And then he gave me the book.
Woo!
Now, I must avoid everyone for the next 3 days until I can begin reading the book on the flight on Wednesday...
(As it turns out, I found out a few minutes later that there were actually three more copies in the store at a different location, but it still was quite funny and in a way exhilarating.)
I liked the movie, but yes, felt it was rushed. I basically decided to consider the movie "Highlights from Order of the Phoenix". There was many plot points left out, many of them minor, but I don't know if someone hasn't read the book if they could really "get it".
And yes. Luna was great. I really wish there was more of her. In general, I liked all the characterizations of the new characters.
I got my new book on Saturday morning, but because of the moving fiasco, I've not had a chance to really start reading it yet. But I intend to go through it slowly and savour it anyway.
Posted by: Jason at July 23, 2007 08:08 AM