Everyone else is doing it ... my thoughts on OotP ;-D

[sophierom]

I was fortunate enough to see OotP at midnight with stephanie206 and her awesome family and friends. We were at a big IMAX theater packed full of Potter fans (including two of my students ... they thought it was hilarious that I was there, and I was so glad to see them, actually. One of the things I love about my students is that they all seem to understand

Comments

[veradee]

I see you know many more details about the book after having re-read it. I've forgotten about several detials you mention that are missing rom the film.

Yes, I hadn't realised it really last night, but many of the emotional elements and Harry's isolation are missing. It's more an action packed film than a character-driven one.

I do wish Lily, though, would be missing from the books as well, because then I wouldn't have to endure all these Snily theories in fandom.

[sophierom]

I do wish Lily, though, would be missing from the books as well, because then I wouldn't have to endure all these Snily theories in fandom.

Lol!

We don't really know Lily as a character, but I actually like her in "Snape's Worst Memory."

[veradee]

We don't really know Lily as a character,

Which is exactly why I'm at a loss why she is so popular among many fans - not only as Snape's love interest.

[sophierom]

I'm interested in Lily in part because she's enigmatic

[redvelvetcanopy]

Very interesting insights, Sophie! I don't plan on seeing the film, and unlike the vast majority of people, I love spoilers. I'm the one who reads the ending of books first.

lewlinx has a good mindset about the films--that they are artistic representations in their own right and can't reflect the details of the books. Still, it irks me because my visual memory of the films is stronger than my recollections of the books at times. That's NOT good!

[sophierom]

Hi, RVC!

I think lewlinx's attitude is a good one. I should try to take that approach. But even as an artistic representation in its own right (perhaps especially as an artistic representation), I would have preferred more character development and less action (but then, I'm not directing blockbusters, either!).

So, you'll be reading the end of Book 7 first? Do you worry that you won't want to read the rest of the book?

Oh, btw, I'm sad that you're not going to see the film, in a way. I'd love to hear what you think about the portrayal of Sirius!

[redvelvetcanopy]

Oh, no! I'll definitely read the whole book. I just hate suspense.

Re: the film. No one, no one! is saying how the veil scene was.

I'm very afraid to see it in public. The original plan was to get it in December or whenever it comes out on DVD and watch it privately.

Did I ever tell you what happened when I saw GOF? LOL. I saw it with my sister and cousin, but we couldn't sit together. I let them take two seats together and took a seat across the aisle between two teenaged girls. I LOST IT when Cedric died and Amos ran out onto the maze and screamed "My boy!" I started sobbing and crying. I think I seriously freaked them out. They probably have nightmares about scary 40-year old HP addicts now!

LOL! You have nothing on my Dorkiness, Soph!!

I'm just worried I'd do something similiar at OofP. Or worse!

[sophierom]

Re: the film. No one, no one! is saying how the veil scene was.

Do you want to know?

LOL! You have nothing on my Dorkiness, Soph!!

Well, I happen to be very fond of dorks!

[stephanie206]

I HATE UMBRIDGE SO MUCH. Gah!

And I love when Gary Oldman winks like that, all like, "I've still got it. Come on up and see me sometime."

ALSO: Imelda Staunton movie with the Irishness that we couldn't think of last night = Vera Drake. :D

[sophierom]

Ah, Vera Drake! *adds to netflix list*

Thanks again for inviting me to revel in the Umbridge hate/Imelda Staunton love!

[stephanie206]

I was just flipping through the Comcast channel guide and was like, "Holy crap! Vera Drake is on! What a coincidence!" Then I read it again. It's a movie called Valerie Flake.

Clearly, I'm not sufficiently caffeinated.

Thanks for coming and being you!

[sophierom]

Oh, you're the nicest person I know. Thanks for thanking me for being me. ;-D

Hope the day went well.

Oh, I meant to ask, are you going to see the film again with Jim? Ivory has made me promise to take him, perhaps this weekend. (Though really, he should have gone to the 3:00 a.m. showing. He decided to get up when I came home! So, he got to work around 4:15 this morning!)

Anyway, if we decide to go and you're bored ... :-D

[_grainne_]

*waves* I think you make quite a lot of sense, actually!

I loved the DA scenes too, but I wouldn't have minded cutting a bit of the "prep" scenes and showing more of the real duelling at the Ministry. All I'm left with is a vision of smoke and flashy lights and bursting glass and then everyone was captured...and after they'd worked so hard. :(

The Worst Memory scene passed WAY too fast.

*zzzzip*..."And there, in a nutshell, Potter, is why I hate your father."

Um. Okay.

And then, after not throwing things at Potter's head, Snape was nice enough to reassure him that his girlfriend hadn't really betrayed him of her own free will. Why, that was almost nice of him! *g* (I suppose he wasn't quite as angry in the movie version, as Potter was only protecting himself and not, say, looking into Pensieves that weren't his to look into

[sophierom]

Wish I could have been there!Me, too

[cafemercury]

Oh, my...Crookshanks with the ear was perfectly cat-like, wasn't it?

[sophierom]

He was! I wanted to pick him up and hug him. ;-D

[cafemercury]

I agree with your loves, but would add Luna. I thought Evanna Lynch was perfect in the role.

I also agree that Sirius' death scene (and its aftermath) felt rushed, but was immensely satisfied overall with how his character was treated in the film. I think I even stopped disliking Gary Oldman in the role. ;-)

And the Weasleys = ♥!!! Weren't they just lovely? Poor Molly looked so worried. I just wanted to hug her. And like _grainne_, I loved seeing the twins comforting that little boy.

Imelda Staunton was fantastic as Umbridge -- the standout of the film, in many respects.

I agree about Cho. Like you, I didn't mind her taking the "sneak" role, but I did not care for the way things played out. Perhaps they were trying to make her a more sympathetic character (though I never got the Cho hate; the girl had something to cry about, after all). I think they overcorrected if that was their intent.

I'm still pondering Snape's Worst Memory scene and the possession scene. I'll come back or make an entry in my own LJ when I'm finished thinking.

[sophierom]

Yes, Luna was great. I can't believe I forgot to add her.

It's interesting that the film embraced characters that the fandom tends to pick on (the Weasleys and Cho, for example). I'm not sure why so much of the fandom dislikes these characters. I love the Weasleys in the books, and I was so glad to see them portrayed as they were in the films. And I agree that Cho had something to cry about in the books. But then, I think so many fans hate Cho (and Ginny, too) because Harry likes them. Jealousy among the young Harry fans, perhaps? ;-D

Thanks for your thoughts. Sorry for including spoilers in the thread on your journal!

[cafemercury]

I agree with the Cho and Weasley comments. The psychology of fandom is an interesting thing, and I include myself in that. Why do some people love Character A, while others despise that same character and love Character B? I wonder if anyone has mounted a study on the psychology of HP fandom. *ponders*

No apologies necessary! I edited the cut after I posted my response, which is what I considered to be spoilery! Besides, I'm more concerned about DH spoilers. Everyone on my f-list has read OotP and has a rough idea of what happens going into the movie. I have *counts* three f-listers who live overseas and one doesn't know when she'll get the book. But I want to talk about it, hence the cuts and special warning icons, hee. My f-listers are smart folk; they'll know not to click.