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I need a big teddy bear, a box of tissues, and maybe some therapy after that because I haven't cried so hard since Titanic was out years ago.
This film, as a whole, was the best so far. I know we've all said that for each one so far (POA being the exception), but this one really surpassed them all. The acting was ten times better, the dialog, the way it flowed, and just the general atmosphere. I was very pleased with it. And I'm going to try to make this as clear as I can while following the movie.
When it opened, I thought everyone was going to die when they saw Dudley with the chain around his neck. That and how fat Mr. Dursley was. It was classic, and I like how they did that scene. And Tonks when she came in! Usually I'm not a Tonks fan, but she was quirky and adorable in this film! She's made me a fan, which is really ironic. No clue how she'll work with Remus, but I suppose we'll see how THAT goes next movie.
The Black residence wasn't exactly how I pictured it, but I suppose it works. It does seem more British to have it there in the middle of everything since things are quite on top of each other. Not sure how I liked the building moving, but ah wells. Oh, and Kingsley's awesome and adorable. I loved him too.
Harry's angst was really quite on during this film, though I was hoping he'd yell a bit more. Ron and Hermione were perfect and the way they're getting closer makes me squee. Seriously, I squeed whenever they were together.
Oh, the hearing! (I'm so not going in any order here, just remembering bits and pieces as I go along) It was really well done and I really wanted to kick Fudge in the balls because he so deserves it. And that big ass sign walking into the ministry reminded me of 1984. Fudge is Watching YOU! But Dumbledore kicked butt in that scene. As did Ms. Figg. "One was big and the other small (or something along those lines)."
I liked the way they go to and from Hogwarts this year. It seemed more like they were in Scotland and they were getting off at a station. It just seemed more connected than: hey, we're hopping on a train and then hey, we're at the feast! Then we see Luna and she was SO PERFECT OH MY GOSH! From her voice, to her earrings, to the Quibbler being held upside down -- perfection. They did an amazing job casting her. Not so sure about Hermione calling Luna Loony at first, but that's okay. It kinda worked.
Umbridge's speech during the feast was just weird and made me want to smack her. Even Trelawney was a bit surprised she interrupted Dumbledore! Speaking of, I really liked him in this one, actually. More subdued and not jumping around everywhere like he was during the last one.
And all these visions Harry has and the way they connected future stuff and things from the pat four movies. I thought that was done really well. Taking clips from the first four, tying it in -- I thought it pieced them all together perfectly. Then Harry's connection to Voldemort and seeing Arthur get attacked. That was really scary, especially since we saw it happening and then Harry was all freaked out. The scene in Dumbledore's office was nice and Harry yelling at him to look at him. LOOVED the teenaged angst.
I also thought it was sweet that McGonagall hugged Trelawney when Umbridge tried to kick her out. I really hate that woman, by the way, and cheered when the Centaurs carried her away later on.
Dumbledore's Army. The way they did this whole concept was perfect and exactly how I imagined it. Everyone became so close and Harry really enjoyed himself, and it showed on film. The fight between Ron and Hermione was CLASSIC, especially with the twins better, Hermione kicking Ron's butt, and then Ron making up an excuse to say it was the gentlemanly thing to do! Then there was the mirror thing they had where they had cedric's picture, the OOTP's original photograph, and all these newspaper clippings. Just the attention to detail was superb. Also, not sure about Alice and Frank and how they look, but that's okay. It's still Neville's parents and I cried of course. And for James and Lily because they really are my OTP and I love them so much.
However, despite loving the whole Dumbledore's Army and knowing that Cho was going to be the one to give up the secret, I still wasn't happy about that. Though, they did a good job explaining why she did with the veriteserum (sp?), so I suppose it'll work so they don't have to introduce a new character.
Also. WTF why is NIGEL still there? He's not even in the books for goodness sake.
And the way the Daily Prophet scenes split things up and kept the audience informed was actually really great! Loved how they did that.
The Twins blowing up the great hall with fireworks during the OWLS was really great, especially after the touching scene where they were consoling that kid. Hate Umbridge, have I mentioned that? Especially her torture devices. Ugh. *stabs* But the way they went from that scene to Harry practically passing out and everything slowing down and him seeing Sirius being tortured -- I thought that was done REALLY well.
Grawmp, though really big and freaky looking, was actually REALLY ADORABLE. He was just so cute and I wanted to pinch his cheeks. Also, the scene where he picked Hermione up and Ron's all panicking! My little shipper heart was fluttering and the woman next to me was giving me weird looks as I was bouncing up and down in my seat. But Ron was all "PUT HER DOWN!" *THWACK WITH A STICK!* And the way Hermione told the giant to put her down. NOW. and then he did, and she finds him cute and Ron's all "grrr" *jealous*... yeah, so perfect.
Anyway, the Department of Mysteries. This was bound to come up eventually and who knows if I'm going to be able to get through this without crying again because it was done so perfectly. I was impressed. Just getting there and the visuals -- I was pointing out things to my sister during all the London sequences (I've been there!). But the Hall of Prophecies is HUGE. There's no other word to describe it, but I never imagined it to be THAT BIG, but I suppose it makes sense with all the predictions and everything. Either way, that whole scene was great. Lucius in his leather and Bellatrix calling Harry "baby" in such a condescending tone. Though i wanted to kick the Death Eater who busted Luna's mouth open the way he did, the bastard.
Then there was the running away from the falling Orbs (by the way, the prophesy and the way they did that was great) and into the room with the veil. *cries* As soon as I saw it, I started crying because I knew what was about to happen. The fight sequence in this was really great with Death Eaters going first and then capturing everyone the way they did, and Harry finally giving Lucius the prophesy (which, HA!, the moron later dropped. Bet Voldemort wasn't too happy after that).
I also really liked the way the DEs and the Order arrive with their misty thing. It's another way to kick butt and though I'm not sure how that fits into canon, I honestly don't care because it's great. Then Sirius shows up, he and Harry talk, they fight DEs (and was I mistaken, or did Sirius call Harry James here? I wasn't sure since there was a lot going on). Then Bella AKed him and my heart gave a stop. The way he just looked at Harry and drifted back into the Veil. I couldn't watch - I was like Harry here and could barely breath.
The way the scene followed after Sirius disappeared was perfect. It was dubbed in almost complete silence with Harry reacting and screaming while Remus held him back and Bella disappearing as she did. I think I liked it this way more than with actual sound because it was more heart wrenching and more poignant. Instead of jumping right into more sound, it gave the audience time to actually think, to reflect for a second, and realize what actually just happened.
Then Bella running away and Harry following her into the Atrium. She actually looked rather upset, but I know she was putting up an act until voldemort got there. The whole scene that followed was spectacular. The fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort was powerful and really showed just how powerful the two of the actually are. Then Harry being possessed and Dumbledore trying to bring him back. He almost didn't make it there (though, duh, knew he would), but it really seemed like it. And then his friends show up and all the flashbacks of the whole year -- the trio laughing together after Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the "wet" kiss and Sirius and Harry hugging, and just loads of things. All help him to push Voldemort away and, I loved the sequence and how it was done.
The conversation between Dumbledore and Harry at the end was really subdued and he helped tie a lot of things in. When Dumbledore said how much he cared about Harry, I wanted to hug him. Though there wasn't any anger or anything like in the books, but that's okay. I'm okay with how it was in the movie.
Finally, the ending sequence where they all go back to the train. Kinda cheesy how they're all following Harry and he's all "yeah, we'll be ready," or whatever (by this time, my icee really was making me have to potty), but it was really sweet. And I just like the panoramic shot of the castle and the Scottish-like music at the end as it wrapped up.
So. all in all, this is definitely my favorite movie. Words hardly describe how happy I was with it. Though they left out loads of stuff from the books, I was really pleased with the way this one turned out. My sister, who has never read the books, understood nearly everything save one or two minor things ("why's Luna so weird?" and "What were the lessons with snape, I don't understand that."), so that's really good that they were able to make it flow so well.
I'm really pleased and can't wait to see it again, as well as what's in store for us when the sixth one is made.