I'm with Chris on this one. Just from a story perspective, HP5 is pretty simplistic, but the attention to details and better-than-ever performances from the cast offer a lot to chomp on. Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge comes off better in the movie than in the book, and may be the most hissable villain we've seen from the series yet. It's a little light on action until the end, but I was never bored with it. It's my favorite of the bunch after Prisoner of Azkaban.
Well thank you Shane for not only having taste, but for being the first person to join the message boards. I really have no idea under what state Steve saw this HP or the others, but I think he def missed out. Glad to have you aboard and on the right side of this one =)
Clearly, Chris and Shane were drinking the Warner Brothers PR water when they saw this film. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the film, but considered as a film on its own, it was extremely rushed with everything they tried to jam into the film. Maybe I didn't enjoy it as much because of my love of Alan Rickman and he was on camera for all of 5 minutes in the entire film. But regardless, I felt let down by this film.
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My side's *always* the right side, Chris. (heh heh)
I think your point about it being rushed is well taken, Steve. It could have been a bit longer and given some of the favorite characters a little more to do. You can never go wrong with more Rickman. I guess I was satisfied enough by Harry's growth as a character to not feel shortchanged. Which is good, because that's pretty much all this film is about. I would guess the next ones will be cram-packed full of action, and Rickman certainly should get some more screen time (and juicy screen time at that).
I think HP 5 was excellent, contrary to Steve's opinion. Most sequels don't need to explain the context of their predecessors - or the worlds that were created - in the sequels. And most movies based on the books usually are better viewed by those who have (1) seen the past movies (and therefore get the context) or (2) have read all or some of the books.
Here's my critique of the movie: 1) Plot-wise, it was a bit weak, but the actors did well with what they had. As a reader and fan of the books, I thought the scenes with Umbridge were well done and brief - a big plus considering that the scenes with Umbridge were the most painful (and long) part of the book. In fact, I think the Umbridge scenes were *better* (length, intensity, and characters) in the movie - although the scene writing 'I will not tell lies' in blood was very unsettling. 2) I think that they conveyed Harry's 'losing his mind' very realistically. The blending of their minds is a key plot line for the rest of the series. 3) Pardon my vivid imagination, but the climactic battle between Voldemort and Dumbledore wasn't nearly as desperate or action-packed as it had in the book. 4) Kreacher, who was a key player in the ending sequence, was mostly left out; his role in the unfolding of events could have been present to more accurately reflect the book. 5) Luna Lovegood was portrayed in an infinitely better way than I could have imagined in the book. She's the perfect mix of her character: kind, friendly, creepy, and extraordinarily weird. 6) The movie was a bit on the short side, mostly skimming over more plot lines than the time frame allowed. The special effects were entertaining, but didn't make up for glossing over the plot. 7) Needs more Snape-time. Considering that the Order of the Phoenix was one of the longest of the books - and had juicy parts like "Snape's worst memory" and trying to block out Voldemort - some of the scenes could have been done better. Snape is one of the most complicated of the Potter characters and glossing over his role was a shame.
I agree completely that a sequel doesn't have to explain its context, and also that movies based on books are usually better if you've read the book that its been based on.
My point was that the film should stand up as its own piece of art, and the book shouldn't be required reading just in order to follow a convoluted rushed story.
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