OotP my thoughts (spoilers, I'm sure)

[Karen]

It's funny how everyone reacts differently. OoTP is my favorite book  
for the very reasons that they captured brilliantly in the movie -  
all of Harry's internal struggle and the relationships. Harry's  
confusion and bitter hurt at what appears to be Dumbledore's  
desertion of him, the trio's strengthening relationship even in time  
of trouble, and what I missed terribly in the books ( I know it is  
*supposed* to be there, but I have always felt the books just portray  
Harry being in love with the *idea* of having a parent as opposed to  
loving the parent)- Harry's and Sirus's sincere attachment to one  
another.

IMO, though it is my favorite book, it was in need of severe editing,  
which it did not get. Did I miss certain things in the movie, yes. I  
always knew the one I wanted most to be there would not be because we  
have never seen Peeves in the movies, but my favorite frivolous scene  
was McGonnagall murmuring out the side of her mouth to Peeves that it  
"screws the other way" as he tries to loosen a chandelier.

I thought the dementor scene was outstanding. It was certainly  
creepy. Mrs. Figg was not nearly frantic enough to me in the movie.  
Maybe my biggest disappointment. Loved the addition of Hermione  
breaking into laughter in the "emotional range of a teacup" scene.  
That just had the feel of "old friends" and made Hermione much less  
imposing and much more likable than she often comes off in the books.  
I really thought that the addition of the scene introducing the  
Weasley's exit was something Jo probably wishes she had written. I  
just loved that little scene with the big Weasley boys comforting the  
little frosh. Some people are berserk over seeing other people  
getting the quill punishment, but even in the books, Harry offers Lee  
Jordan the recipe for that potion to take away the pain from it, so  
even Rowling *does* have other students being punished in that  
manner. (BTW, was that not just a tiny stomach churning to see that  
happen to Harry's hand?) The magic of Ministry showdown, was IMO,  
amazing. I thought it was great and so was the possession scene. The  
thing I wondered most about going in to this was how the heck they  
would portray Harry's dreams and the possession at the end. Ususally  
that kind of thing falls very flat in moviedom. It did not here. They  
handled the dream sequences so well, that it paid off in spades for  
me at the MoM. I also thought the death scene in the movie was much  
more heartbreaking - half due to the magnificent way that Gary Oldman  
conveys a relationship with Harry through little more than winks and  
facial expressions and half to the absolutely masterful use of film  
techniques in Harry and Lupin's reaction. Here is a case where some  
simple applications of slow mo and NO sound just made it very raw.  
Less is more.

Yes, the beginning is a bit choppy, as that is where they did the  
most chopping, but I felt all their cuts were well thought out. They  
were ruthless in sticking to the main plot with no B lines. It works  
for me. Radcliffe was terrific I thought. Not one bit overdone, which  
*could* have happened. It always amazes me to see him interviewed  
because he is SUCH a spaz in real life. I would never confuse him  
with his character. I see very little of Dan in Harry and vice versa.

People have also complained about the lack of screen time for other  
characters, but I didn't feel that anyone was really slighted. They  
were there just enough. These actors are good enough that they get  
plenty of notice with very little. That includes Bellatrix. She  
seemed plenty important even though her screen time was negligible.  
Ron finally comes off as a real mate and there is actual chemistry  
between him and Hermione (who, of the three continues to perform at  
the same level she ever did and not any better.)

As for the prophecy, I think they will explore that further in 6,  
with the pensieve scenes. One thing about movies, they tend to want  
their threads in one film. I expect Neville's role will be put there,  
instead of here (unless his role in the denouement is less important  
than it seems right now - we'll know in a week or so!)  JK seems to  
give them heads up about what NOT to exclude. She gave them the hint  
that they better throw Kreacher in there or they would write  
themselves into a corner further along. She sent a note to Helena  
Bonham Carter when she was offered what appeared to be a very small  
role that caused Carter to accept. So as far as salient points go, I  
think that they are pretty good at including them in the movies.

I could have sat through it immediately again. I'm itching to see it  
again. I'll have to wait for the weekend. I'd go tonight if I wasn't  
just getting over a migraine. I thought that this was more true to  
the actual book in emotion as well as content than any of the last  
three. The first two movies were very rote for the most part, but  
didn't capture the emotional element - they were just too  
"Disnified". PoA was beautiful, but truly took liberties with story  
and characters (my biggest disappointment with that film is most  
definitely having Harry cry after the Three Broomsticks scene -  
totally NOT Harry Potter. Heck, he wouldn't even allow himself to  
breakdown after Cedric's death). Loved Goblet, but again, they  
focused on the "magical" tournament elements, but it mostly worked  
(would be my second favorite book, and movie). My only disappoinment  
there was I wish they had focused a bit on Harry's trauma and  
isolation after the graveyard, BUT they moved it to this film and it  
worked. That is why I believe they will move the Neville line to  
movie 6. Same principle.

I really liked Yates style and I am thrilled he is doing the next  
one. I really wish he'd do the last one as well because I think there  
should now be a stylistic continuity to the last three movies.  
Certainly Rowling has stated she feels six and seven of the books is  
really one book, and I think the same should be done for the movies,  
but I don't know how logistically or practical that will be for Yates.

And a last point, I am once again SO happy John Williams has been too  
busy for the last two movies. This soundtrack rocked more than  
Goblet's. Yes, he's a great film composer, blah blah blah, but he is  
SO busy that his music tends to sound very one level and very much  
reuses way too much material, IMO. Nicholas Hooper did a GREAT job in  
keeping just a bit of the thematic matieral, but matching the rest of  
the score to the richer fabric of the psychological nature of the  
nether end of the series.

OK, did I ramble enough? 4.5 out of 5 stars from me.

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