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Sunday after I posted my lynnevitational fic I went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Mostly because I was so anxious about the fic that I needed something to distract me and going to the movies ensured that I wouldn't be clicking the refresh button every five minutes to check for comments.
All in all, I'm glad that I went. I wasn't planning to go, not really. My experience with the HP movies has been less than stellar, but this one ... this one I was surprised to discover I totally adored.
Prisoner of Azkaban was the last HP movie that I enjoyed. I loved that Alfonso Curon darkened the movie and made the shift away from the Disneyfied version that was sweetened up for the audiences. Although, I still largely disliked Steven Kloves' scripts. Order of the Phoenix did a much better job, I think, with rewriting the book for the big screen. I have to say, though, that I finally let go of the idea that the movies were going to come anywhere close to the books and with that relaxing I think that the movies became much more enjoyable. Plus with a better director and better scriptwriter ... well, you get the picture.
Anyway,
Of the Good:
- The films texture. Yates went back to the Curon film and that was perfect. Goblet of Fire had lost a lot of that and OotP brought it back beautifully. Loved the cinematography and the dream sequences. Most everything in the film looked exactly as I imagined it, especially the hallway in the Department of Mysteries and Order's HQ.
- Gary Oldman. YAY!! Perfect as Sirius. He shifted quite beautifully from the madman in PoA to the loving godparent in OotP. I also love that you really got a feeling for his connection to Harry, the way that he misses James and that terrible desire that they both have for family. And hello chemistry!! I might just be ready to start shipping Harry/Sirius because, dude! What was that? Seriously?!
- Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. For the first time, Gambon was Dumbledore for me and not just the guy that replaced Richard Harris. There was something about his forcefulness and intensity that were perfect for the way he has changed with the return of Voldemort.
- Ginny's dirty looks at Cho Chang. Woot!!!
- Ron! Totally cute and still a total doofus, but adorable. And a little bit beefcake there Ron. There's something about that smile that I love and I think he's definitly improved as an actor. Granted, he's totally in the sullen teenager mode, but it translated rather well to the screen especially next to Emma Watson who was way too shrill.
- Neville!!!!
- I am in love with LUNA LOVEGOOD. That girl was perfect in the role. Absolutely the ingenue. She got the daffy whimsy down pat. Loved it. Although I am a bit of a Harry/Luna fan, her and Neville in the DoM were pretty awesome.
- Bellatrix LeStrange. And who could have played that part better than Helena Bonham Carter?
- Loved the way the DA scenes and the bits with Umbridge were montaged. There is a lot in that book and they did a good job with covering time and events between the newspapers and those montages.
- I am amazed at how awesome Daniel Radcliffe looked. Pretty yummy there.
- Loved Umbridge's office and the kitten plates. Another perfect recreation!
Crookshanks and the Extendable Ears.
I fell asleep on Goblet of Fire and found it pretty boring. I also lamented the fact that you never really got a chance to develop a connection with Cedric and so his death in the end, though surprising, wasn't as stunning as it was in the book. However, in OotP they went a long way to connecting the emotional dots. Harry's isolation, Sirius' nostalgia, Snape's prejudice, etc. I really do credit the scriptwriter. That said, the movie felt surprisingly short to me, perhaps because of the amount that was cut out which was pretty significant. I would have liked them to have included more, but I can see how they couldn't or wouldn't considering that this is a film of a very big, very active book.
The Not So Good:
- The Howler to Petunia. That is so important!!
- The shrieking paintings in the hallway of the OotP HQ. That's a detail that I think could have easily have been added. Just one of those background things that Curon did so well in PoA.
- More Kreacher. He's so creepy and disturbing!
- The wizarding hospital and the visit to visit Mr. Weasley. Mostly I mention this because I think it was crucial in the book to see Neville's parents. It made Bellatrix and Voldemort that much more sinister. I think, in terms of the film, that it would have also gone a long way to explaining Neville's intensity in the DA classes.
- Mrs. Weasley and the Bogart.
- Re-writing the betrayal of the DA. Having Cho give up the information because of, a later revealed, douse of Verita Serumm as opposed to having Marietta tell Umbridge. I loved the SNEAK that showed up on her face in the book, it was a highlight. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning for the re-write.
- I really would have liked to have seen Lily storm in and save Snape in that flashback memory.
- I totally missed the myteries in the Department of Mysteries. Although, I totally understand the not wanting to work that in because of the time and additonal sets, but still ... that was such an awesome part of the book.
- The rest of the OotP. In the movie they were such minor characters. I totally missed Tonks. She was very Run, Lola, Run, as well and I think they could have made her a look a little more punk rock.
That sees like a lot, but I really did enjoy this film. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this film especially considering my dislike of the second and fourth films. So. YAY!!
In other news, the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lynnevitaional has been a resounding success, I think. I've gotten to read through some of what's been posted, although not all because there are quite a few WIP's. Anyway, I am in love with:
Birds in Cages (Spike, R) bycadhla
Poggra-mengri (Giles/Jenny, PG-13) bystakebait
Chthonic (Fred/Faith, G) byinlovewithnight
The Drizzle and the Sunshine (Gunn/Buffy, Wesley/Gunn, NC-17)byviciouswishes
Outside of the ficathon, I've also just read a fabulous Addams Family/Angel cross-over. Totally had me laughing and those voices are beautifully spot on. A great, great read.
Her Beauty and Her Terror. Addams Family/AtS crossover. (Harmony/Wednesday, PG-13) byijemanja
All in all, I'm glad that I went. I wasn't planning to go, not really. My experience with the HP movies has been less than stellar, but this one ... this one I was surprised to discover I totally adored.
Prisoner of Azkaban was the last HP movie that I enjoyed. I loved that Alfonso Curon darkened the movie and made the shift away from the Disneyfied version that was sweetened up for the audiences. Although, I still largely disliked Steven Kloves' scripts. Order of the Phoenix did a much better job, I think, with rewriting the book for the big screen. I have to say, though, that I finally let go of the idea that the movies were going to come anywhere close to the books and with that relaxing I think that the movies became much more enjoyable. Plus with a better director and better scriptwriter ... well, you get the picture.
Anyway,
Of the Good:
- The films texture. Yates went back to the Curon film and that was perfect. Goblet of Fire had lost a lot of that and OotP brought it back beautifully. Loved the cinematography and the dream sequences. Most everything in the film looked exactly as I imagined it, especially the hallway in the Department of Mysteries and Order's HQ.
- Gary Oldman. YAY!! Perfect as Sirius. He shifted quite beautifully from the madman in PoA to the loving godparent in OotP. I also love that you really got a feeling for his connection to Harry, the way that he misses James and that terrible desire that they both have for family. And hello chemistry!! I might just be ready to start shipping Harry/Sirius because, dude! What was that? Seriously?!
- Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. For the first time, Gambon was Dumbledore for me and not just the guy that replaced Richard Harris. There was something about his forcefulness and intensity that were perfect for the way he has changed with the return of Voldemort.
- Ginny's dirty looks at Cho Chang. Woot!!!
- Ron! Totally cute and still a total doofus, but adorable. And a little bit beefcake there Ron. There's something about that smile that I love and I think he's definitly improved as an actor. Granted, he's totally in the sullen teenager mode, but it translated rather well to the screen especially next to Emma Watson who was way too shrill.
- Neville!!!!
- I am in love with LUNA LOVEGOOD. That girl was perfect in the role. Absolutely the ingenue. She got the daffy whimsy down pat. Loved it. Although I am a bit of a Harry/Luna fan, her and Neville in the DoM were pretty awesome.
- Bellatrix LeStrange. And who could have played that part better than Helena Bonham Carter?
- Loved the way the DA scenes and the bits with Umbridge were montaged. There is a lot in that book and they did a good job with covering time and events between the newspapers and those montages.
- I am amazed at how awesome Daniel Radcliffe looked. Pretty yummy there.
- Loved Umbridge's office and the kitten plates. Another perfect recreation!
Crookshanks and the Extendable Ears.
I fell asleep on Goblet of Fire and found it pretty boring. I also lamented the fact that you never really got a chance to develop a connection with Cedric and so his death in the end, though surprising, wasn't as stunning as it was in the book. However, in OotP they went a long way to connecting the emotional dots. Harry's isolation, Sirius' nostalgia, Snape's prejudice, etc. I really do credit the scriptwriter. That said, the movie felt surprisingly short to me, perhaps because of the amount that was cut out which was pretty significant. I would have liked them to have included more, but I can see how they couldn't or wouldn't considering that this is a film of a very big, very active book.
The Not So Good:
- The Howler to Petunia. That is so important!!
- The shrieking paintings in the hallway of the OotP HQ. That's a detail that I think could have easily have been added. Just one of those background things that Curon did so well in PoA.
- More Kreacher. He's so creepy and disturbing!
- The wizarding hospital and the visit to visit Mr. Weasley. Mostly I mention this because I think it was crucial in the book to see Neville's parents. It made Bellatrix and Voldemort that much more sinister. I think, in terms of the film, that it would have also gone a long way to explaining Neville's intensity in the DA classes.
- Mrs. Weasley and the Bogart.
- Re-writing the betrayal of the DA. Having Cho give up the information because of, a later revealed, douse of Verita Serumm as opposed to having Marietta tell Umbridge. I loved the SNEAK that showed up on her face in the book, it was a highlight. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning for the re-write.
- I really would have liked to have seen Lily storm in and save Snape in that flashback memory.
- I totally missed the myteries in the Department of Mysteries. Although, I totally understand the not wanting to work that in because of the time and additonal sets, but still ... that was such an awesome part of the book.
- The rest of the OotP. In the movie they were such minor characters. I totally missed Tonks. She was very Run, Lola, Run, as well and I think they could have made her a look a little more punk rock.
That sees like a lot, but I really did enjoy this film. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this film especially considering my dislike of the second and fourth films. So. YAY!!
In other news, the
lynnevitaional has been a resounding success, I think. I've gotten to read through some of what's been posted, although not all because there are quite a few WIP's. Anyway, I am in love with:Birds in Cages (Spike, R) by
cadhlaPoggra-mengri (Giles/Jenny, PG-13) by
stakebaitChthonic (Fred/Faith, G) by
inlovewithnightThe Drizzle and the Sunshine (Gunn/Buffy, Wesley/Gunn, NC-17)by
viciouswishesOutside of the ficathon, I've also just read a fabulous Addams Family/Angel cross-over. Totally had me laughing and those voices are beautifully spot on. A great, great read.
Her Beauty and Her Terror. Addams Family/AtS crossover. (Harmony/Wednesday, PG-13) by
ijemanja
