Harry Potter! Drove over to Crawley today to catch the latest movie, didn't really know what to expect after the disappointingly rushed feeling evoked in the last film (by trying to cram effectively two film's-worth of material into the running time of one)...this one didn't have quite as much content to condense (so an easier job for the director), but once the story *had* been distilled, I dunno, I just felt like perhaps the joy of *reading* TOTP might have actually been taking the ride alongside Harry, through all his ups and downs and really, apart from Sirius' departure, the story (as a whole) isn't advanced very far at all during this book, it's more a tale of growing up - skipping the Cho/Harry difficulties (apart from one sentence from Hermione, summing it up neatly) and one kiss, even that essential part of the story ended up largely on the cutting room (or more likely, the script meeting room) floor...action was good (highlight being the battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort), lowlight being the DA easily brushing off the early attentions of the Death Eaters and then suddenly *all* being caught and helpless at the exact same moment, that really didn't work...casting was frankly superb, the highlight for me was the tragically under-used Timothy Bateson's "Kreacher", so wonderfully resentful and thoroughly believable (my imagination got no-where near that good)...Imelda Staunton's "Umbridge" was excellent too, but didn't quite communicate the absolutely unswerving mania I got from the book (close though, I couldn't imagine anyone else doing a better job of it), again , Evanna Lynch's Luna, not *quite* the character I know and love, but I can't honestly think of anyone who could have done a better job...all in all, not as good as the first two movies, but a *hell* of a step up from the last one...
Oh and we also got to see some of the multi-million pound hype engine for the Simpsons movie...it's everywhere...even the "please turn your mobile phone off" message was sponsored by them...same with the drinks and the popcorn...just wonder why it's taken 18 years to arrive...
5 comments:
Ha! We went to see the HP movie at 16:20 in Crawley. I like your review: my main complaint is that they cut out too much. On the way back in the car we were rattling off all the bits and pieces they have cut.
Umbridge was good - too many other good actors (besides for Bateson, Thompson was another).
Yes, better than the last film but still clearly the work of muggles. ;-)
Sorry - 2nd para a bit mangled - meant to say that they had many good actors who seemed to be mainly sitting it out on the bench.
There's a simpsuns movie??? When??
Release dates are here...although I am curious under which rock you have been hiding! ;)
That's very true BB, lots of the actors really did only get a couple of lines...shame they aren't doing a "Peter Jackson" and putting out special extended editions for the hardcore who would happily put up with the "numb bum" factor for a more faithful reproduction...
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