2007 was a big summer--the release of the final book was looming, the OotP film was released to theaters, anticipation was high, and the Harry Potter fandom was in a frenzy. What were your overall thoughts after seeing OotP for the first time? Where were you when you saw it?
The book was ridiculously long, but I ate it up. I liked a lot of things about the book, but the loss of Sirius was horrible. I was disappointed in that turn, but I understand her reason for eliminating him.
WB Screening room, before attending the press conference where Rupert first mentioned his ice cream van!
Didn't go to the premiere, but popped down to the square with daisy_roots to find the webcam and try to wave at you all - we got texted by mrsquizzical from AUSTRALIA to say move down a bit - how amazing is technology? - and then we got out our posters - one movie poster, one leelastarsky Harry/Ron - and pointed ourselves at the webcam and waved and a chap tried to move us on and we said we were just waving at a webcam, and he was scared and left - and lots of lovely people took our picture!
I was actually in the Philippines in 2007 and the movie hadn't come out there at the same time. So I didn't actually see OotP until the first day of the Sectus Harry Potter conference in London. It was really cool seeing it in a theater in London. Although, looking back I kind of wish I'd spent more of that trip on sightseeing since I spent a week in London but didn't see any actual sites.
I enjoyed it, though not quite as much as GOF. I think they got the theme and the tone of the books right, but I wish they hadn't cut quite as much as they did.
After my first, immediate not-so-great impression I adored this movie. It remains the HP one I have seen the most times, though does not hold the record for most times I've seen an HP movie on the big screen.
Mrs Figg was terrible. She still makes my blood boil and the dementors aren't as cool as the PoA ones, but other than that I adore pretty much everything in this movie. Favourite bit: the talking envelope at the start.
I thought it kept the tone and feel of the book perfectly, and it was a vast improvement over GoF. I really felt that things had changed and the imminent threat of Voldemort on the rise.
The poor woman will always be typecast by that performance. I think of her every time I see a kitten on a plate! She was so horribly evil! Pottermore had new info on her and her family history. I thought she'd been killed by the centaurs and was really disappointed to see her back the next book or maybe it was DH.
It was so spot on I loved it. And frankly, I appreciated that they prettied her up a bit since the book description always made me vaguely uncomfortable given that it seemed to equate attractiveness with evil.
Imelda Staunton is always perfect, but she was particularly perfect in this. I love that we always had the perfect BAFTA winning, Olivier winning actor for every small part.
OotP brought new locales such as Grimmauld Place, the Wizengamot courtroom and the Department of Mysteries, as well magical creatures: a big dementor scene, thestrals, and giants. What did you think of the film's depiction of these?
I loved the spooky feel of Grimmauld and the Department of Mysteries and the harsh feel of the Wizengamot. I think they got it right for the most part.
I loved Grimauld Place. it lived up to it's name in Grim-ness.
(also fun fact, I know someone who lives in the neighborhood used for the exterior shot of Grimauld Place in the ootp movie (which up inspection was changed for Deathly Hallows- and I don't understand why?) and she said they get a lot of people coming there for photo ops.
I really liked the Ministry of Magic main atrium, it felt both magical and whimsy- with an underlying totalitarian orderly vibe.
The Department of Mysteries was appropriately otherworldly and eerie. but I really wish we had seen more of the other rooms
the thestrals were definitely eerie and upsetting, although I sort of liked the innocence they were given with that- baby thestral?
Grawp didn't impressed me much but that's because I have get to see a Giant on screen that doesn't look CGI
Comments 45
Reply
Reply
Didn't go to the premiere, but popped down to the square with daisy_roots to find the webcam and try to wave at you all - we got texted by mrsquizzical from AUSTRALIA to say move down a bit - how amazing is technology? - and then we got out our posters - one movie poster, one leelastarsky Harry/Ron - and pointed ourselves at the webcam and waved and a chap tried to move us on and we said we were just waving at a webcam, and he was scared and left - and lots of lovely people took our picture!
( ... )
Reply
Reply
Reply
Hermione: All right, but nothing special. Slightly less frizzy.
Ron: They always go on about how messy Harry's hair is, but it's Ron who really needs a good haircut! With all that magic floating around?
Luna: Not exactly the limp, stringy hair described in canon. She has gorgeous hair.
Draco: Awesome hair. Much better than the slicked back hair of his younger years.
Snape: The last year of his greasy, stringy hair! By the time HBP rolled around he had a new fluffy, blowdry cut. Very attractive new do. LOL!
Reply
I didn't really have thoughts on anyone else's other than that Lucius still has the most gorgeous hair in these movies.
Reply
But I liked Ron's a lot, it made him look mature and it was miles better than the mess that was his hair in GoF
Reply
Reply
Reply
Mrs Figg was terrible. She still makes my blood boil and the dementors aren't as cool as the PoA ones, but other than that I adore pretty much everything in this movie. Favourite bit: the talking envelope at the start.
Reply
that being said the lighting was way too dark.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
(also fun fact, I know someone who lives in the neighborhood used for the exterior shot of Grimauld Place in the ootp movie (which up inspection was changed for Deathly Hallows- and I don't understand why?) and she said they get a lot of people coming there for photo ops.
I really liked the Ministry of Magic main atrium, it felt both magical and whimsy- with an underlying totalitarian orderly vibe.
The Department of Mysteries was appropriately otherworldly and eerie. but I really wish we had seen more of the other rooms
the thestrals were definitely eerie and upsetting, although I sort of liked the innocence they were given with that- baby thestral?
Grawp didn't impressed me much but that's because I have get to see a Giant on screen that doesn't look CGI
Reply
Leave a comment