After my huge disappointment in the movie portraial of Goblet of Fire, I decided not to re-read the book for this one. That seemed to work for me, I tend to get really pissed off at movie versions of books. They just screw too much stuff up.
That was wise. I should have tried to wait until after the movie to start rereading. It's set in that we are just days away from the last book so I got obsessive and just dove in. I wasn't as disappointed with Goblet of Fire as this one. It seemed that the changes they made were far more dramatic than in previous adaptations.
I liked it. I couldn't remember much from the book except the main jist. I thought the girl that played Luna did a great job. I expected the quick wrap up of everything that happened before Harry got to school, and I knew they were going to leave tons of stuff out that would really rankle. They got most of the big stuff though. I had forgotten about Ron and Hermione becoming prefects in this book, but I did find myself wondering when that was supposed to happen. I liked the thestrals, even if their wings weren't quite batty. I do wish they had shown someone else's point of view (someone that hadn't witnessed someone die) as the group flew over London. I think that would have been a great spot to put Ron with his eyes closed saying, "This is mad!"
It just bothers me as the other movies stayed fairly close to the books and this was a huge departure. Again, this could be because of a different screenwriter.
Nothing on James Potter and Sirius except for that little bit just before Sirius dies when he turns to Harry and says "Nice one, James." I truly appreciated how they didn't stop to get a close up of Harry's confusion because they assume the audience will have keyed into how close Sirius and James were as youngsters.
And I, too, was dissatisfied with how you could barely tell that there were trunks strapped to the Weasley's broomsticks as they skipped the place and nowhere in either HPIV or HPV do we learn that Harry gave his GofF earnings to the twins to get serious about their products.
Ooh, another one: the movie never explained that Umbridge sent the dementors after Harry. That was a bit of a big plot.
I didn't notice the trunks on broomsticks. Really, the quiddich should have been a quick and easy addition - to show the twins summoning their brooms from the dungeon would have been a good touch.
Umbridge kinda reminded me of laura bush - well, with a spine.
Hmmm, yes, the point of Umbridge should have been made, but I think with her torturing everyone, the point was made for non-readers that she was evil.
I'm really starting to wonder if the script isn't driven by how much camera time (or "hangin' with Harry" time) the actors have--it may explain why they didn't have a 20 second shot at Grimmauld Place explaining about the two new prefects and another 10 seconds showing Hermione and Ron reluctantly bowing off to a different carriage. Which reminds me--why were they not in robes by the time they disembarked from the Hogwarts Express--I thought it was a requirement that they appear at school in school dress.
Comments 6
Reply
What do you think of the latest movie?
Reply
Reply
Again, this could be because of a different screenwriter.
Nothing on James Potter and Sirius except for that little bit just before Sirius dies when he turns to Harry and says "Nice one, James." I truly appreciated how they didn't stop to get a close up of Harry's confusion because they assume the audience will have keyed into how close Sirius and James were as youngsters.
And I, too, was dissatisfied with how you could barely tell that there were trunks strapped to the Weasley's broomsticks as they skipped the place and nowhere in either HPIV or HPV do we learn that Harry gave his GofF earnings to the twins to get serious about their products.
Reply
I didn't notice the trunks on broomsticks. Really, the quiddich should have been a quick and easy addition - to show the twins summoning their brooms from the dungeon would have been a good touch.
Umbridge kinda reminded me of laura bush - well, with a spine.
Reply
I'm really starting to wonder if the script isn't driven by how much camera time (or "hangin' with Harry" time) the actors have--it may explain why they didn't have a 20 second shot at Grimmauld Place explaining about the two new prefects and another 10 seconds showing Hermione and Ron reluctantly bowing off to a different carriage.
Which reminds me--why were they not in robes by the time they disembarked from the Hogwarts Express--I thought it was a requirement that they appear at school in school dress.
Reply
Leave a comment