SPOILER ALERT: This post contains information and opinions pertaining to the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. Those of you who have not seen the fim yet and plan on it need not read on!
Sadly, the IMAX 3D version of Order of the Phoenix was sold out for ALL shows Saturday. So we had to "settle" for the plain ole' cinema version. Second time for me. Sigh. :p
Personally, I LOVED the movie. I think it's the best one so far. One of the biggest complaints I keep hearing from people and various critics is how "dark" the movie is, both in cinematic presentaion and in theme. Well. I guess those people forget the premise of this particular book, for, indeed, it is masterfully dark; yet "light" rushes in to save the day just at all the right times. However, I think that's one of Rowling's main points. Harry and the gang are growing up, the sky is metaphorically filled with ominous predictions, and just when things seem to be at the lowest point for Hogwarts and the lot, Rowling pulls a brilliant tactic by bringing her audience back to the main point of her series to begin with: good WILL ultimately triumph over evil. As the ensuing Voldemort invades Potter's mind and begins to convince the teen he has lost, Harry says, (paraphrased because I can't remember the exact words) "No, you're the one who has lost because you'll never know love and friendship. And I feel sorry for you." BAM. That's it for me, folks. I can't get into all these theological debates and wars over Harry Potter. To me, and to the general majority of people out there who READ for pleasure, those lines epitomize what this series has always been about (without oversimplifying the sub-plots of the series, of course!)
Oh, and the flashbacks! I've always loved those type of scenes in movies. They make your mind work quickly and force the audience to visualize thematic connections from one point to another.
As we left the theater my brother commented that he thought the directors were trying to cram too much into the movie. I see his point, but my only response to that is, "You should see what they left out!" Which is quite a bit. No Dobby the house elf, no Ron and his new adventures on the Quidditch field, and definitely no flying brain trying to attack Ron in the Department of Mysteries scene at the end. Whew. This was Rowling's longest book so far (I guess we'll see if that holds true when my #7 is delivered Thursday) and if Hollywood would have treated this book at face value, we'd be facing a monster much bigger than the tidily packaged 143 minutes we just paid to view.
I heard another person say they thought the movie focused too much on the Umbridge dilemma at Hogwarts. I'd like your thoughts on that, Casie. I can't decide whether I agree with that or not. Oh, and Sirius' death, to some, seems overshadowed by other happenings. I can't decide about the treatment of those two.
But overall, the fact that I thought a couple times through the movie, "Hey, what about...." was completely trivialized by the enormity of everything else that was featured in the film. In the end, I think the film was "spot on." Ok, ok. No more British quips.
RESPONSES WELCOME!!!!!
10 comments:
Hullo.
Ever since Jeremy linked ya on his blogsite, I've been a bit of a lurker. So, since I was part of the piracy Saturday, I'll throw down my two cents.
I though the movie was doing rather well to fit that 800+ page monstrosity into something enjoyable. How many book-to-film adaptations can actually say that? I throughly enjoyed the movie.
Speaking of books, I'm already about %85 through Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, which is a very good book. Rowling is one heckuva yarn spinner, don't ya think? I really love her detailed descriptions of what's going on, it makes it rather easy to imagine being there.
Well that's enough of my insanity for one reply. Oh, by the way, teach, please don't critique my writing too much, for it has been years since I've done any formal writing. Years of teh intarwebs makes a fellow forget proper things. :D
Peace.
~Dave
First, I totally agree w/ you about the idiot critics who complain that the movie is too dark. HELLO, have you READ the book? It's a very dark time in Harry's life and in the wizarding world! If you follow the series, you know this is not a story about some cute little kids casting cute little spells.
As for Umbridge, I don't think the movie overfocused on her at all. She was SO key to Order of the Phoenix. You practically hate her more than Voldemort. If anything, it may have underfocused (if that's even a word) on the whole bloody hand punishment. How satisfying was it to see Umbridge taken away by the centaurs? :)
Sirius' death was taken a bit too lightly. I don't think there was enough build up to it. But I did like how the movie showed Harry's reaction--we saw him screaming, but we didn't hear him. Somehow that made it even more powerful.
So Order of the Phoenix isn't as fun as some of the other movies, that's the point! Harry's life isn't fun and innocent at this point. He has the weight of the world (both magical and muggle) on his shoulders!
Thanks for the comments, you two. And, David, you don't have to worry about me critiquing your writing; I make just as many mistakes as everyone else. Even English teachers aren't grammatically and stylistically perfect! ;) Comment any time! --adk
You know, I really shouldn't post at 12:35am. "%85" What the junk is that?! After about 10pm my brain turns off six cylinders, so I'm left with two that's just putting along, barely alive. :D
I can officially review Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone now: A very good start to a phenomenal series. Even though Krieger-san told me it was like on a 3rd or 4th grade reading level, it was still very well written and not watered down or anything. Though I could tell it was on a kid's reading level, because this is the first book I've read in ages that I haven't had to pull out a dictionary whilst reading. Okay, dictionary.com... Still a dictionary though. I mostly read R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms Series, which is intended for older teens or adults. Salvatore's is some good Tolkien-inspired fantasy, that's rated PG-13. Anyway, off of my wild tangent's and back to the book. What really impressed me was how faithful the film kept to the book. I give it a 10!
~Dave
Wow foz, you really ate that book alive! Anyways, I do think that they crammed too much into the movie. And I didn't like the scene where Sirius died. It seemed like: "Hey he's alive, oh crap. He just died? What?" But I do agree, trying to cram 900 pages of book into a 2 hour movie is a bit hard.
I absolutely loved how dark it was. I'm a fan of dark movies anyway, and the camera work on this film was great! Give the nerds at the studio who designed the filters and CG a "what what" for that one.
I'll get around to reading Potter after I finish the monster of a series I'm currently reading: Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. This is my third attempt at getting through all 13 books, and it's rough because all all of them are over 900 pages. I'm so ADD I usually get stuck around book 7 or so.
Rememeber 'ol chap, the first 3 books are kinda short. But I'm already 105 pages through The Prisoner of Azkaban, which I'm reading while "borrowing" music from Dangerman! *sings* "Dangerman, Dangerman, drives around in a mini-van! Life for him has no zing, job won't let him do a thing! They say, it's about he grew up, whenever there's a screw-up, you'll find the Dangerman!" :D
Haven't seen the movie yet. Grrrr...
OH! And how the heck are you getting your book on Thursday (yesterday???) Mine won't be here til tomorrow!!!!
Yeah. sorry Jenette. My dates are all wrong; my #7 will be here tomorrow (Saturday), er, in about 15 hours or less, hopefully! BTW, when are you coming down to stay at the Krieger chalet? :p
Have you gotten a chance to read any of #7 yet, April? If so, whatcha think? Just no spoilers, please. I've been trying to avoid all things HP on teh intarnets because all of the crackhead commie spoiling 'tards. :D I'm about 20-25% through #4 as I speak.
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