Movie thoughts (HP7A)

[emmagrant01]

I realize this is coming really late, but I just saw HP7A for the third time today, and wanted to take a moment to write down some thoughts.

First of all, I really LOVED this film. I've liked all the films, but I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. It so, so exceeded my expectations!

• I loved the rusted out, peeling WB logo. That was an interesting touch, and set the stage for the Wizarding World in the process of falling into chaos.
  
• The opening shots of the trio were fantastic, with all of them looking pensive and steeling themselves for what was to come. The scene where Hermione obliviated her parents was unexpected, and heartbreaking. I teared up for her all three times.
  
• SNAPE walking right through the gates of Malfoy Manor, OMG. I usually don't find Rickman sexy (sorry!), but that scene of him walking down the path and blasting through the gate was awesome.
  
• Voldie was a bit over the top in the scene in the Manor, but everyone else was deliciously sycophantic. I loved how nervous and freaked out the Malfoys were, and how Lucius looked like he might collapse in terror when Voldemort took his wand.
  
• I usually don't find my eye drawn to Ron in the films, but in this one, I couldn't take my eyes off of Rupert Grint in every scene he was in. It was interesting how they costumed him and Dan so differently, with Ron wearing clothes that are almost too small to accentuate how tall and broadchested (humina!) he is, and with Harry wearing clothes that were almost always too big and ill-fitting, making him look small and thin.
  
• I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see Dudley shake Harry's hand, but hey. They have to cut somewhere.
  
• The seven Harry Potters scene was awesome. I thought Dan played that really well. Loved Harry snuggled up to Bill on the back of a thestral!
  
• Interesting that Bill Weasley actually looks younger and Fred and George... But he was adorable, so I'm hardly complaining. ;-)
  
• I don't see Harry/Ron in the books AT ALL, but damn, do I ever see it in the films. The way Dan so enthusiastically hugs Rupert just fuels my imagination, heh.
  
• The chase was exciting, though it was interesting that they had to have part of it played in traffic. That's such a movie cliche!
  
• George's ear didn't look anything like I expected it would. I wasn't sure someone who hadn't read the books would realize it had been cursed off, but maybe it doesn't really matter.
  
• The scene between Harry and Ron outside the Burrow was great. I loved the physical contrast between them, and how much Harry clearly trusted Ron's judgment when he changed his mind. I just adored Ron all through the film, and thought it was the best acting Rupert has done.
  
• The Harry/Ginny kiss was sweet, and I can see why they had George interrupt rather than Ron, since they skipped the whole H/G breakup at the end of the last film.
  
• I thought Bill Nighy was great as the Minister of Magic, but it's hard for me to look at him and not think of him singing naked on TV in Love Actually. ;-)
  
• The wedding scene was well-done, with so much tension in the air. I thought they did a good job of condensing all the Dumbledore stuff. It's an interesting subplot, but I don't think the film missed it. I also loved the way Ron kept staring at Hermione with so much longing throughout the beginning of the film. That was so sweet. :-)
  
• I loved the way they did the apparition special effects. That worked so well, and corresponds nicely visually with the way it's described in the books.
  
• After the Ministry fell, things really started moving, and that was awesome. I loved the trio on Shaftsbury Avenue, and then fighting the DEs in the cafe. Ron was so deliciously dark there, almost to the point of being scary. It was nice foreshadowing for how dark his emotions get later on, and it also served to remind us that he's a lot more than Harry's goofy sidekick.
  
• Hermione's beaded bag looked different than I expected, but at every showing I went to, it always got a laugh.
  
• I was surprised how much they condensed the time spent at Grimmauld Place, but it was necessary because of the long camping trip coming up. I thought the scene with Ron and Hermione playing piano was especially cute. I also thought it was good to get them started on finding the locket quickly, since they were going to spend so much time trying to figure out how to destroy it.
  
• The polyjuice scenes at the Ministry were awesome. It almost went better as an ad hoc mission, without all the planning they did in the book. I thought that the three actors playing the polyjuiced trio did a great job. On the third viewing, I noticed that we actually see all three of them earlier in the film.
  
• When the trio were trying to escape the Ministry after getting the locket, it was interesting to watch them hurling curses as good as they got. (Same was true in the cafe scene earlier.) One of the things that was interesting about the OOTP film was that the DA kids spent the whole year learning defensive spells, and when they got to the Department of Mysteries and were in the middle of the battle between the DEs and Order members, they were so clearly outgunned. It was almost crazy to see the difference between the adults and the kids. But in this film, the trio gave as good as they got, showing that they have indeed learned a lot and are really adults now.
  
• Ron's splinched arm didn't look as bad as I expected, somehow.
  
• The endless camping trip: I thought this was really well done. The bleak, desolate locations they selected made the trio's isolation seem even more acute. I missed Potterwatch, but I understood why they kept the radio in earlier instead. It was a great way to drop little bits of exposition here and there, things that more casual watchers of the film might miss.
  
• The growing tension between Ron and his imagination was well done. Every time Ron glowered at Harry and Hermione, I shivered. It was so deliciously dark!
  
• Ron and Harry SCRUFF, OMG. I wanted more of it, a lot more. But still, it was nice to see them looking so scruffy!
  
• The fight between Ron and Harry that culminates in Ron leaving worked well, and I thought Hermione's reaction to Ron leaving was great. In fact, I thought this film showed Emma's best acting yet. Her eyebrows were under control, finally!
  
• The dancing scene in the tent with Harry and Hermione was really interesting. I'm sure this has been discussed ad nauseum in fandom, but my take on it was that for people who hadn't read the books, it would be almost inconceivable that Harry and Hermione could just hang out in a tent together for weeks/months and NOTHING would happen between them. For those of us who read the books, there was no sexual tension between them, but movies are different, so they really had to address it. I read that scene as Harry offering physical comfort to Hermione, and Hermione not taking him up on it. He almost looked relieved when she walked away, because you know, Harry is GAY. ;-)
  
• Godric's Hollow: I wanted to see the statue and the supportive graffiti on the house! I always liked the way that really lifted Harry's spirits in the book. But I guess it wasn't so desperately needed in the film as it was in the book, when they'd been completely cut off from the WW for so long.
  
• Escape from Bathilda Bagshot's house: gratuitous snake attack shots for the 3-D version.
  
• YUMMY Grindelwald! I love that they cast a cute, feminine-looking guy for the role of Dumbledore's boyfriend true love best friend with benefits.
  
• It took three watches for me to catch Snape's "Trust me". Hee!
  
• I'm not sure why Harry's glasses were on his face during the entire scene where he's under the water, but then he has to put them back on to see Ron clearly. Is that a continuity error?
  
• The horcrux destruction scene was fantastic. The special effects were great there, and of course, the Harry/Hermione snog session was awesome. I loved that they made it look like they were naked, because of course, that's what Ron would think about.
  
• The whole story with the light touching Ron's heart was cute, as was Harry's reaction of looking really uncomfortable having to stand there and hear it. It was nice to have the trio back and interacting in their old trio way, but with Ron sucking up to Hermione at every opportunity. The scene where she wants to go to Lovegood's was really well acted!
  
• I adored the animated version of the Three Brothers, just adored it. I also like the little glance Ron and Hermione exchanged at the mention of the invisibility cloak, and that it was left at that. No need to hit even the casual filmgoers over the head with that information.
  
• One of the things I've always liked about this book was that JKR finally explained why people were so terrified of saying the name Voldemort aloud, and the scene where Xenophilius shouts "Voldemort!" and all hell breaks loose was perfect.
  
• Chase scene with the snatchers after the trio -- very Blair Witch Project.
  
• And then, the infamous scene at Malfoy Manor. I was really interested how they would play the whole thing with Draco, and it did not disappoint. I mean, geez, it was totally obvious to Draco that this was Harry, and it was written all over Draco's face. Harry was looking at him with this plea in his eyes, and Draco was looking back like What the hell am I supposed to do here? and Harry was all pleeeease don't do this and Draco was okay, you're kind of hot when you beg. That scene was so awesome. And then later, Draco just refused to call Voldemort, and it was the same look on his face, that "Fuck it, Harry is my only hope of ever getting laid and I'm not cooperating with my batshit Aunt Bella."
  
• Hermione/Bellatrix. Nuff said.
  
• Not surprised that they didn't make a big deal of Wormtail's debt.
  
• Oh, Dobby. Dobby, Dobby, Dobby. I started crying when he made his little speech about being a free elf, all three times.
  
• I wasn't really sure how they would end this part of the film, but ending it where they did was brilliant. The Trio have just barely escaped with their lives, have lost several of their friends already, and then Voldemort takes the fucking Elder Wand right out of Dumbledore's cold, dead hands. It looks hopeless, and it's the perfect place to end it. On this third viewing, my husband (who's never read the books) said, "I thought the wand chooses the wizard. He can't just take it like that and expect it to work for him, can he?" I thought that was an interesting remark for someone who's just a casual watcher of the films.

And that's my tl;dr take on the film. I'm sure there are things I've forgotten that I wanted to say, but I'll edit them in if I think of them. I'm so excited for the last part!

Comments

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I usually don't find my eye drawn to Ron in the films, but in this one, I couldn't take my eyes off of Rupert Grint in every scene he was in.

This, exactly. I think Rupert has a bright future ahead of him, should he choose it.

I don't see Harry/Ron in the books AT ALL, but damn, do I ever see it in the films. The way Dan so enthusiastically hugs Rupert just fuels my imagination, heh.

Or maybe even Harry/Ron/Hermione. Or, um, yeah, forget the maybe.

I was really interested how they would play the whole thing with Draco, and it did not disappoint.

Did. Not. Disappoint. And then some. More Draco next movie, yay!

*edits because typos are stupid*

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

I thought Bill Nighy was great as the Minister of Magic, but it's hard for me to look at him and not think of him singing naked on TV in Love Actually. ;-)

NOT JUST ME!!! ahahahaha!!

[frances-veritas.livejournal.com]

SORRY. WHAT DID THE REST OF THIS SAY?

All I got was this:

He almost looked relieved when she walked away, because you know, Harry is GAY. ;-)

AND THIS:

I mean, geez, it was totally obvious to Draco that this was Harry, and it was written all over Draco's face. Harry was looking at him with this plea in his eyes, and Draco was looking back like What the hell am I supposed to do here? and Harry was all pleeeease don't do this and Draco was okay, you're kind of hot when you beg. That scene was so awesome. And then later, Draco just refused to call Voldemort, and it was the same look on his face, that "Fuck it, Harry is my only hope of ever getting laid and I'm not cooperating with my batshit Aunt Bella."

:D :D :D :D

But really I agree with every single point here. I've seen it three times now too! And I catch something new each time. I thought all the subtle Ron/Hermione scenes were great. Gave me butterflies each time. And their big kiss in the second part should KILL. And I thought the Harry/Draco part was so well done. And did you read about what Tom Felton said about that scene? He was all "It looked like Harry and Draco were about to French kiss, I was gonna go for it, but Dan didn't want to." HEEEEEEEEEE.

Dobby part killed me. Each time.

I want more Grindelwald though! But like you, I'm glad they cast a really good looking guy. Cause he was suppose to be in the books. And I was wondering how all the Dumbledore parts, like his backstory, would translate on screen cause there was so much of it in the books, you know? But I thought they did great. They got the message across that Dumbledore wasn't perfect without using every detail.

My other favorite scene was the tent scene. The fight between Ron and Harry. Goosebumps each time then too! I'm so happy at how much they've grown as actors. I'm going to not be able to breathe when the final part comes out. :(((((((((((

[bloodstaindnght.livejournal.com]

The scene where Hermione obliviated her parents was unexpected, and heartbreaking. I teared up for her all three times.

As soon as they showed Hermione in her room, I started sniffling. I'm glad they showed it, but it broke my heart.

Escape from Bathilda Bagshot's house: gratuitous snake attack shots for the 3-D version.

I have to live vicariously through everyone's descriptions of this part. I have an absolutely horrible snake phobia, and I had my jacket over my head the entire scene. I'm VERY relieved I read the book, or I would have screamed bloody murder when Bathilda became the snake.

The dancing scene in the tent with Harry and Hermione was really interesting.

I am so avidly anti-Harry/Hermione that I just can't like this scene. I get that people (like my mom) think it's sweet and shows they think of each other almost as siblings, but it's just so unnecessary to me.

. . .it was totally obvious to Draco that this was Harry, and it was written all over Draco's face.

I was SO looking forward to this scene, and I was so happy with it. It's obvious he knows it's Harry and doesn't even really think of outing him.

[celestlyn.livejournal.com]

Re: Your comment about them cuting out the scene where Harry and Dudley shake hands. The reason for that is because the actor who played Dudley has reinvented himself as a fairly slimmed down young man. He was in a BBC's 'Merlin' and was nearly unrecognizable. Couldn't very well have that dude in the film.

I wasn't crazy about the little island in the lake for Dumbledore's crypt or momument. I always pictured it up closer to the castle.

I agree, it was an awesome movie. The disks for both movies will be on my Christmas list for next year.

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Wonderful synopsis! I agree with all of this.

Okay, your Draco musings had me nearly peeing my pants. lol

And omg, Dobby! I cried, my daughter cried, and when I read the book way back in 2007, I literally sobbed like a baby. Like, broke down sobbing.

Snape bogarting into Malfoy Manor, hottest scene in the movie. No lie. I actually went "Unf!" in the theatre. He was all "Damn, gonna have to cut a bitch up in here" about it.

One of my favorite scenes was Harry and Hermione dancing. It was just a beautiful moment between friends that were like family, and reminded me for a moment of the picture Harry has of his parents, where James is spinning Lily around.

Ron was hot in the film. And yes, scruffy faces, mmmm!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Of the three of them, I would have bet money that Rupert wouldn't make it after HP as an actor, but I'm changing my mind about that!

Or maybe even Harry/Ron/Hermione.

There is a hurt-comfort trio-smut scene floating around in my head, set directly after the movie. Heh.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Even DH said something about it, LOL! He was all, "Wasn't he the rock star guy from Love Actually, who said fuck a lot and ended up naked?" LOL!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Please tell me there is somewhere a video of Tom Felton saying that? Cause I think I need to hear the words come out of his mouth. Of all the actors, he's the only one I've ever heard talk about slash, which is all kinds of awesome. :-D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I loved Draco in this. Even when he fought back, it was totally half-hearted. I am SO looking forward to that broomstick ride!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Did not know that about the actor playing Dudley! I did notice they only showed him from the back, though.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Back in 2007, I sobbed my way through the part where Dobby died. I had to put the book down for a little while.

I might have said "Unf" over Snape too, which is really unlike me. ;-)

[freckles42.livejournal.com]

The glasses thing in the water bugged me, too - but then I decided that perhaps when Ron pulls him out, the glasses fall off/get set aside (PERHAPS FOR SOME SNOGGING/WARMING UP???).

This movie reinforced my love of the trio. It's always been my OT3. One of my very first HP writings was a R/Hr/H drabble and I've never quite been able to give them up. :D

[freckles42.livejournal.com]

They put him in a fat suit but apparently it didn't look that great.

[jeri-1116.livejournal.com]

You pretty much summed it up. I loved the film. I do wish the fight scene could have been more intense, it was good but the book seemed more emo to me. And when Ron saved Harry I wanted that hug that was in the book where Harry realizes how much he had missed Ron. When Dobby died me and my mom teared up. I loved, loved Ron's dark side I wanted more.

The movie moved along at a good pace. The forest scenes were forever long in the book, also the Black house scenes where they stayed with Kreacher was wrapped up rather quick, great in the book but It was good that they moved that along for the movie.

Two things I hated, there was so goodbye scene with Dudley, but I guess thats okay since in the movie they never showed Dudley trying to show thanks to Harry. That only appears in the book.

Hedwigs death seemed to be glossed over really quick, that irked me. In the book when Hedwig died and Harry arrived at the farm they ask about Hedwig and Harry feels sick to his stomach about the loss of his pet, but in the movie Harry got to the farm showed know emotion and Hedwig was not spoken about at all so like I said that irked me.

Two things I loved.

The first- Ron left and came back while it was still part one. I was so scared that they were going to have him leave and then we wouldn't see Rupert until part 2, glad that didn't happen. The second- more Rupert he has always been my fave so I was so happy to see him in action right next to Dan doing his thing.


Also more Draco please, I love him. I hope the room of reqiurements scene is big in the last part of the film *pouts* thinking about the end. All good things must come to an end I hate that saying. :)

[bicrim.livejournal.com]

yeah, yeah, yeah, everything you said was spot on, but hold on a minute. Your husband has never read the books? He hasn't read your fic?

[frances-veritas.livejournal.com]

I have no idea! D:

I don't know if it's from a video interview or just a regular interview. Cause I got it from this: http://malfoyisourking.tumblr.com/post/1627206046

And he's given like 5464156416351 interviews on Deathly Hallows, so I don't even know where to begin to find it haaha.

[bicrim.livejournal.com]

do you have links to him talking about slash? I must see this.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Love it! I know that must have been caught on film, and my god, if they would just release an outtake reel and put that on it...

[celestlyn.livejournal.com]

Here is a link if you want to see what he looks like:
http://www.wisevid.com/play?v=4A_9wb8q8w51

Same ears and same eyes. Otherwise, amazing transformation.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

There was a video of him on a panel at Comicon (can't remember which year) where he talked about THE Harry/Draco manip (you know the one, right?) and said his brother made it a background on his cell phone for a while. He's talked before about the crazy fans who think Harry and Draco should end up together, and he thinks it's hilarious. I wish I had links for you!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I had no idea!

[celestlyn.livejournal.com]

Snape was really transformed for the last two movies. His hair is washed, feathered and styled in both. He has always had that commanding, elegance, but it was very pronounced in these last two movies. His walk up to the manor was epic! Probably because he only had two scenes in the whole show. He was also pretty intense at the long table in the Manor. Guh! Yeah, I'm almost old enough to appreciate Snape. (Thank the Gods for Alan Rickman.)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That's a reasonable explanation for the glasses, actually.

Mmm, triofic! Here's my version of that icon...

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I forgot about that Harry/Ron hug! Now I want it back!!! :-P

And your icon is yummy. I need some new icons from this film!