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A Series of Thoughts on "Order of the Phoenix"
Yes, I finally got around to going to see it. I'd been waiting for my sister to get back into the country, and she came home last night, so off we went as soon as I got off work.
I thought it was quite good, actually. I did have a few complaints/suggestions/rants, though, as well as some notes of commendation.
1. It was too short. Now, having the longest attention span in the world, I often say that after movies. But in this case, it was particularly true. OotP is the longest book, yet it has the shortest movie? That doesn't make sense. I did think they did a good job of editing, though--they didn't cut out anything completely necessary; they cut out the right bits. Except...
So, yeah. These are my ridiculously long-winded thoughts. If I'm thinking this hard about one of the films, imagine what my mind's going to be doing on Saturday!
I thought it was quite good, actually. I did have a few complaints/suggestions/rants, though, as well as some notes of commendation.
1. It was too short. Now, having the longest attention span in the world, I often say that after movies. But in this case, it was particularly true. OotP is the longest book, yet it has the shortest movie? That doesn't make sense. I did think they did a good job of editing, though--they didn't cut out anything completely necessary; they cut out the right bits. Except...
2. There wasn't enough Ron. I'm not just saying that because he's my favorite; it's true. I've often felt after watching the films that many of Ron's best lines/scenes are given to Hermione or cut away entirely (especially the scene in the Shrieking Shack in PoA--don't get me started on that). I know the "Weasley is our King" stuff was just completely irrelevant to the movie, so I'm not saying they should have put it in, but still. He can do so much more than they're letting him. Maybe they just don't trust Rupert Grint, though I can't imagine why. I got a grin on my face from the first time we saw him in Grimmuald Place, which was great, because...
3. The production design on these films just keep getting better and better. I adored the look of PoA, but this one might have been even better. It was all so dark and claustrophobic and yet rich and bright enough to see what's going on. As I said, Grimmuald Place, especially, was fantastic...
4. Though there wasn't enough of it. I kind of have a hangup on that place--it's by far my favorite locale in the books. This manifestation was nothing like the one in my mind, but I still adored it and wished more of it could have taken place there. And that we could have seen the picture of Walburga, though we did get a little of her whispering with...
5. Kreacher, who was scary as hell. He may have been the creepiest thing in the series so far, even though you could totally tell they cobbled in his scenes once JKR told them he might be important in the last book/film. And I would have liked to see more of him in the scene with...
6. The Tapestry, which was so completely cool, even though we didn't get to see enough of it. I keep saying that about things, and I know I'm being picky, but I just want more! Though I can't complain one wit about...
7. The Room of Requirement/Dumbledore's Army. Brilliant. I loved the montage scenes (there's nothing I love more than a good montage), and the scene with the Patronouses reminded me what was so magical about this series in the first place. I especially liked the rabbit, which was perfectly in character for...
8. Luna, who was very well cast, I must say. She had the dreamy, ethereal thing down perfectly. And besides, she was the one character that I thought got her due besides...
9. Umbridge, who was perfectly cast. I've always rather liked Imelda Staunton, but now I adore her, because she was brilliantly unctuous. Her costumes and office were hilarious, but I wish we'd seen a tad less of her and a little more of others, including...
10. Tonks, Bellatrix, and Trelawny. I pretty much adore Tonks and thought that the girl who played her looked exactly right, only I have no clue if she can act exactly right, because we barely got three lines out of her. Here's to hoping they'll explore her and Remus in the next film (they probably won't). Emma Thompson reminded me again why she's my favorite actress alive: she was so fragile in her scenes, and my heart went out to her, though I've never liked her character before. That, my friends, is true acting. Helena Bonham Carter was as gloriously evil as I knew she would be, and I'd love to see more scenes between her and...
11. Neville, who, along with Ginny, Dean, and several others has grown up to be way taller than I could ever have imagined. Ginny better stop growing or they might have to recast her in the next film--it would be awkward watching Harry snog with a girl that much taller than him. But I couldn't help thinking the whole time...
12. I hope Bonnie Wright's up to Ginny's (much) larger role in the next film. I don't have any particular reason to doubt her, only you can tell that in the first film she was cast just because she had red hair and they needed her for two scenes. Ginny's role in the books has grown more than people expected, apparently, even though I figured from the beginning that Harry would end up with her. As for him...
13. Daniel Radcliffe's acting has improved substantially. I don't think I winced once! Good for you, Dan! Apparently, it's been good for you hanging out with...
14. Gary Oldman, who is proving to me yet again what a genius he is. He had a small role, when I think about it, and yet he made such an impression. Much like...
15. Alan Rickman. I just worship that man as an actor, and I can't imagine a better Snape. His scenes with Harry were exactly right--exactly exactly right--and they felt like the perfect set up for HBP. He was also hilarious in that "Oooobviouslyyyy..." scene ( love it!). I'm so glad he and Maggie Smith and everyone else don't consider these roles beneath them. I can't rave enough about the casting director for these films...
15. Or the composer, this time around. I was quite impressed with the music. Good for you, whoever you are! It was completely different than John Williams's original, but I respect the fact that he went different places and didn't just stick with what had come before. The same can be said of...
16. The directors. With the exception of Chris Columbus, who I kind of hate, all of the directors thus far have done a fabulous job. They all build on each other while still reinventing and coming up with brilliant new ideas. Here's to hoping the last two will continue to raise the bar and that...
17. Emma Watson will quit annoying me. I don't know why I don't care for her anymore, when I thought she was Hermione in the first film, but now she seems to try to steal the scene away from everyone else, no matter the scene. Oh, well. It could be much, much worse, I suppose.
3. The production design on these films just keep getting better and better. I adored the look of PoA, but this one might have been even better. It was all so dark and claustrophobic and yet rich and bright enough to see what's going on. As I said, Grimmuald Place, especially, was fantastic...
4. Though there wasn't enough of it. I kind of have a hangup on that place--it's by far my favorite locale in the books. This manifestation was nothing like the one in my mind, but I still adored it and wished more of it could have taken place there. And that we could have seen the picture of Walburga, though we did get a little of her whispering with...
5. Kreacher, who was scary as hell. He may have been the creepiest thing in the series so far, even though you could totally tell they cobbled in his scenes once JKR told them he might be important in the last book/film. And I would have liked to see more of him in the scene with...
6. The Tapestry, which was so completely cool, even though we didn't get to see enough of it. I keep saying that about things, and I know I'm being picky, but I just want more! Though I can't complain one wit about...
7. The Room of Requirement/Dumbledore's Army. Brilliant. I loved the montage scenes (there's nothing I love more than a good montage), and the scene with the Patronouses reminded me what was so magical about this series in the first place. I especially liked the rabbit, which was perfectly in character for...
8. Luna, who was very well cast, I must say. She had the dreamy, ethereal thing down perfectly. And besides, she was the one character that I thought got her due besides...
9. Umbridge, who was perfectly cast. I've always rather liked Imelda Staunton, but now I adore her, because she was brilliantly unctuous. Her costumes and office were hilarious, but I wish we'd seen a tad less of her and a little more of others, including...
10. Tonks, Bellatrix, and Trelawny. I pretty much adore Tonks and thought that the girl who played her looked exactly right, only I have no clue if she can act exactly right, because we barely got three lines out of her. Here's to hoping they'll explore her and Remus in the next film (they probably won't). Emma Thompson reminded me again why she's my favorite actress alive: she was so fragile in her scenes, and my heart went out to her, though I've never liked her character before. That, my friends, is true acting. Helena Bonham Carter was as gloriously evil as I knew she would be, and I'd love to see more scenes between her and...
11. Neville, who, along with Ginny, Dean, and several others has grown up to be way taller than I could ever have imagined. Ginny better stop growing or they might have to recast her in the next film--it would be awkward watching Harry snog with a girl that much taller than him. But I couldn't help thinking the whole time...
12. I hope Bonnie Wright's up to Ginny's (much) larger role in the next film. I don't have any particular reason to doubt her, only you can tell that in the first film she was cast just because she had red hair and they needed her for two scenes. Ginny's role in the books has grown more than people expected, apparently, even though I figured from the beginning that Harry would end up with her. As for him...
13. Daniel Radcliffe's acting has improved substantially. I don't think I winced once! Good for you, Dan! Apparently, it's been good for you hanging out with...
14. Gary Oldman, who is proving to me yet again what a genius he is. He had a small role, when I think about it, and yet he made such an impression. Much like...
15. Alan Rickman. I just worship that man as an actor, and I can't imagine a better Snape. His scenes with Harry were exactly right--exactly exactly right--and they felt like the perfect set up for HBP. He was also hilarious in that "Oooobviouslyyyy..." scene ( love it!). I'm so glad he and Maggie Smith and everyone else don't consider these roles beneath them. I can't rave enough about the casting director for these films...
15. Or the composer, this time around. I was quite impressed with the music. Good for you, whoever you are! It was completely different than John Williams's original, but I respect the fact that he went different places and didn't just stick with what had come before. The same can be said of...
16. The directors. With the exception of Chris Columbus, who I kind of hate, all of the directors thus far have done a fabulous job. They all build on each other while still reinventing and coming up with brilliant new ideas. Here's to hoping the last two will continue to raise the bar and that...
17. Emma Watson will quit annoying me. I don't know why I don't care for her anymore, when I thought she was Hermione in the first film, but now she seems to try to steal the scene away from everyone else, no matter the scene. Oh, well. It could be much, much worse, I suppose.
So, yeah. These are my ridiculously long-winded thoughts. If I'm thinking this hard about one of the films, imagine what my mind's going to be doing on Saturday!