Deathly Hallows
Okay, so I've hardly been able to contain myself about Deathly Hallows, so SPOILERS AHEAD (though mild ones I'd say).
I've been antsy as hell to see this movie, but in general also bracing myself for disappointment because, let's face it, the movies haven't been that great.
Until now. When the movie started and I watched the first ten minutes, I was in awe already at the ACCURACY. Ye gads, how the maneuvering of the plot has frustrated me in the past, but this time the writers held nothing back, even using some dialogue and gestures straight out of the book. And including such small but significant characters like Elphias Doge and (finally!) Bill Weasley was so relieving. I was practically in tears when we saw Hermione obliviating her parents. Any whimsical magic and lightheartedness of HBP is officially gone and in its place is the extreme panic and helplessness that everyone is feeling that truly had me on edge and shaking for parts of it.
As a devoted fan of Severus Snape, I was entranced by his scene in Malfoy Manor because damn can Alan Rickman steal the scene - with nothing beyond his eyes, which tell ALL. Looking back at all the movies, his scenes have been short and concentrated and never fully appreciated, but now he finally has the camera focused on nothing but him, and it's not even his amazing voice that makes it great - it's that determined indifference that he must at all costs maintain even though behind it we can see how frustrated he is to be able to do nothing. Okay, so maybe I'm projecting fanon Snape a little, but it all has a basis from the books.
Next I really must point out how the actors have really stepped up their game. Daniel Radcliffe used to be the worst crier I'd been embarrassed to witness on film (must we remember Prisoner of Azkaban? or the end of Goblet of Fire?), but he pulls off a mature and upset Harry very well. And Emma Watson has stepped out from behind her forced lines and bad use of eyebrow expression to give me chills at times. When Ron was splinched and she was freaking out, I was genuinely scared by the sound of her messy panicky crying. And then when Bellatrix tortures her - damn that girl can scream. And Rupert Grint has totally grown out of his doofy face to harness Ron's frustration and insecurities. When he killed the locket horcrux and when he convinced Harry that people weren't dying for just him, I was cheering him on. Then of course you have the Malfoys, Jason Isaacs is amazing as usual, but seeing Lucius all bedraggled and having second thoughts was very well executed. And Tom Felton's terror and regret comes through so well even though he's only in a couple scenes.
Though I haven't ever felt the desire to do so before, I must dwell a bit on all the hot men we come into contact with in this film - because seriously there are many. Let's list them along with my surprise factor:
Severus Snape - Alan Rickman may be a little older and not as skinny as my mental image of Severus, but as mentioned above his eyes, his voice, his hair, the way he moves - everything really. And my roommate and I agree that he'd be a total freak in the sack, if only we could get him there ;)
Lucius Malfoy - even as an unshaven wreck he remains Luscious Lucius and has an amazing wardrobe as usual.
Draco Malfoy - he began getting attractive as soon as he stopped slicking his hair back, but not until HBP was he really getting hot. Maybe the angst helped ;)
Remus Lupin - so I love Lupin in the books and was always furious with the way they portrayed him in the movies - I never saw him as such a tall, gangly thing - and I despised that mustache for a long time. But with the mustache hidden amid scruff and an almost beard he has become a very rugged sexy. Also I love Remus angst so that helps - but I refuse to even think about his death.
Fred and George Weasley - they've always been cute and funny because, hey, they're the twins. But with their awesomely well-cut vests and hair, they are fiiine.
Bill Weasley - less roguish than I picture him, but attractive - in a sort of David Wenham Faramir sort of way.
Ron Weasley - somewhere along the line, Rupert Grint got hot. Looking back at HBP he was getting there then. But now, dayum he is built. I wish he took his clothing off as much as Harry did in this movie.
Harry Potter - okay so I have always thought Daniel Radcliffe was nerdy and reminded me of too many guys I went to high school wish (bleh), but maybe its his constant five o'clock shadow, or that happy trail down his pasty white yet defined abs (that we see seven times at once and then some). Yeah I'm still a little boggled, but it works.
Random Hot Snatcher - so that Snatcher with the long messy ponytail and all that charcoal liner was fiiiine. Reminiscent to Graverobber a la Repo!The Genetic Opera if that reference isn't too vague a reference.
And surprisingly the shipping wasn't as poorly executed as it was in HBP. I was actually convinced that Ron and Hermione could work out. If Ginny had more screen time then maybe that would have been convincing too. But shit was there a lot more intense macking going on in this movie. First Harry and Ginny slipping tongue before the wedding and George's interruption was priceless. And then the Riddle-Harry and Riddle-Hermione were super hot and totally naked as they ate each others' faces. Poor Ron. On the other hand, the dance scene between Harry and Hermione and some of their quieter moments together leaves hope for any of the Harry/Hermione shippers because it was sweet. I was surprised it was there at all.
Hmm...I'm sure I could say more. Bathilda Bagshot was scary as shit and the fact that the Ministry scene was spot on was impressive. Oh, the one itty bitty thing that I wish they had included was Harry's confrontation with Remus about going on adventures with them. But overall they hadn't developed Remus's character as deeply as it should have been in order for that to jive well with his movie self. And the Tonks/Lupin love was great and we need more of that.
Oh and I hope to get a picture up soon of my roommates and me in costume. Tom Riddle, Rita Skeeter and Mary Sue. I was the Mary Sue - named Venus Margarita Lily Snape - Harry's half-sister, daughter of Severus and Lily, raised in American for her own protection and loved by all the boys (and some of the girls, but she doesn't swing that way).
I've been antsy as hell to see this movie, but in general also bracing myself for disappointment because, let's face it, the movies haven't been that great.
Until now. When the movie started and I watched the first ten minutes, I was in awe already at the ACCURACY. Ye gads, how the maneuvering of the plot has frustrated me in the past, but this time the writers held nothing back, even using some dialogue and gestures straight out of the book. And including such small but significant characters like Elphias Doge and (finally!) Bill Weasley was so relieving. I was practically in tears when we saw Hermione obliviating her parents. Any whimsical magic and lightheartedness of HBP is officially gone and in its place is the extreme panic and helplessness that everyone is feeling that truly had me on edge and shaking for parts of it.
As a devoted fan of Severus Snape, I was entranced by his scene in Malfoy Manor because damn can Alan Rickman steal the scene - with nothing beyond his eyes, which tell ALL. Looking back at all the movies, his scenes have been short and concentrated and never fully appreciated, but now he finally has the camera focused on nothing but him, and it's not even his amazing voice that makes it great - it's that determined indifference that he must at all costs maintain even though behind it we can see how frustrated he is to be able to do nothing. Okay, so maybe I'm projecting fanon Snape a little, but it all has a basis from the books.
Next I really must point out how the actors have really stepped up their game. Daniel Radcliffe used to be the worst crier I'd been embarrassed to witness on film (must we remember Prisoner of Azkaban? or the end of Goblet of Fire?), but he pulls off a mature and upset Harry very well. And Emma Watson has stepped out from behind her forced lines and bad use of eyebrow expression to give me chills at times. When Ron was splinched and she was freaking out, I was genuinely scared by the sound of her messy panicky crying. And then when Bellatrix tortures her - damn that girl can scream. And Rupert Grint has totally grown out of his doofy face to harness Ron's frustration and insecurities. When he killed the locket horcrux and when he convinced Harry that people weren't dying for just him, I was cheering him on. Then of course you have the Malfoys, Jason Isaacs is amazing as usual, but seeing Lucius all bedraggled and having second thoughts was very well executed. And Tom Felton's terror and regret comes through so well even though he's only in a couple scenes.
Though I haven't ever felt the desire to do so before, I must dwell a bit on all the hot men we come into contact with in this film - because seriously there are many. Let's list them along with my surprise factor:
Severus Snape - Alan Rickman may be a little older and not as skinny as my mental image of Severus, but as mentioned above his eyes, his voice, his hair, the way he moves - everything really. And my roommate and I agree that he'd be a total freak in the sack, if only we could get him there ;)
Lucius Malfoy - even as an unshaven wreck he remains Luscious Lucius and has an amazing wardrobe as usual.
Draco Malfoy - he began getting attractive as soon as he stopped slicking his hair back, but not until HBP was he really getting hot. Maybe the angst helped ;)
Remus Lupin - so I love Lupin in the books and was always furious with the way they portrayed him in the movies - I never saw him as such a tall, gangly thing - and I despised that mustache for a long time. But with the mustache hidden amid scruff and an almost beard he has become a very rugged sexy. Also I love Remus angst so that helps - but I refuse to even think about his death.
Fred and George Weasley - they've always been cute and funny because, hey, they're the twins. But with their awesomely well-cut vests and hair, they are fiiine.
Bill Weasley - less roguish than I picture him, but attractive - in a sort of David Wenham Faramir sort of way.
Ron Weasley - somewhere along the line, Rupert Grint got hot. Looking back at HBP he was getting there then. But now, dayum he is built. I wish he took his clothing off as much as Harry did in this movie.
Harry Potter - okay so I have always thought Daniel Radcliffe was nerdy and reminded me of too many guys I went to high school wish (bleh), but maybe its his constant five o'clock shadow, or that happy trail down his pasty white yet defined abs (that we see seven times at once and then some). Yeah I'm still a little boggled, but it works.
Random Hot Snatcher - so that Snatcher with the long messy ponytail and all that charcoal liner was fiiiine. Reminiscent to Graverobber a la Repo!The Genetic Opera if that reference isn't too vague a reference.
And surprisingly the shipping wasn't as poorly executed as it was in HBP. I was actually convinced that Ron and Hermione could work out. If Ginny had more screen time then maybe that would have been convincing too. But shit was there a lot more intense macking going on in this movie. First Harry and Ginny slipping tongue before the wedding and George's interruption was priceless. And then the Riddle-Harry and Riddle-Hermione were super hot and totally naked as they ate each others' faces. Poor Ron. On the other hand, the dance scene between Harry and Hermione and some of their quieter moments together leaves hope for any of the Harry/Hermione shippers because it was sweet. I was surprised it was there at all.
Hmm...I'm sure I could say more. Bathilda Bagshot was scary as shit and the fact that the Ministry scene was spot on was impressive. Oh, the one itty bitty thing that I wish they had included was Harry's confrontation with Remus about going on adventures with them. But overall they hadn't developed Remus's character as deeply as it should have been in order for that to jive well with his movie self. And the Tonks/Lupin love was great and we need more of that.
Oh and I hope to get a picture up soon of my roommates and me in costume. Tom Riddle, Rita Skeeter and Mary Sue. I was the Mary Sue - named Venus Margarita Lily Snape - Harry's half-sister, daughter of Severus and Lily, raised in American for her own protection and loved by all the boys (and some of the girls, but she doesn't swing that way).